DVD Review: The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Boxset

Mabuse. That name, pronounced Mab-ooz-a, may not resonate with present day moviegoers, but in the 1920s it struck fear into the hearts of those lucky (or should that be unlucky?) enough to witness the two-part German epic Dr Mabuse, The Gambler (Dr Mabuse, Der Spieler) and the birth of a criminal mastermind.

DVD Review: Torchwood: Children of Earth

If you’re not still in shock after last week’s epic Torchwood Week on BBC1 (and if not, where were you?) this DVD release of all five episodes is all you need to help you catch-up on perhaps the finest reversal of fortune for a TV series since…well, ever.

DVD Review: Three Monkeys

Silence speaks volumes in Three Monkeys, Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s snapshot of a family in freefall following the release of father and husband Eyüp (Yavuz Bingol) from prison.

DVD Review: Shelley Series Four

With plots revolving around rising unemployment, a deepening recession and families struggling to make ends meet, ITV’s Shelley seems almost prescient when viewed a quarter of a century on from its original transmission.

DVD Review: Napoleon and Love (1974)

When researching the background to any TV show or film, it’s often worth going straight to the horses mouth for stories on its production. In the case of Napoleon and Love starring Ian Holm as the title character, who better to look to than Mr Holm himself?

DVD Review: The Shield, Season Seven

In what is already being looked back upon as one of the most consistently impressive decades for quality US TV drama, The Shield has without doubt proven itself to be the series with the finest long-game plan and the most rewarding pay-offs for loyal viewers.

DVD Review: The Machine Girl

Opening with the sight of a group of bullies about to carry out their latest act of terror on an innocent schoolmate, only to be interrupted by Ami (Minase Yashiro), a young girl with a machine gun for an arm wreaking destruction upon them, The Machine Girl starts as it means to go on.

DVD Review: Pardon the Expression

For a TV show of its age (it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2010) and popularity (its ratings reaching 21 million at its peak), it seems odd that Coronation Street’s only real spin-off came in 1965 with Pardon the Expression.

DVD Review: Australia

Big, bold and beautiful, Australia the film shares many attributes with the country from which it steals its name.

DVD Review: The Baader Meinhof Complex

Based on real events, The Baader Meinhof Complex focuses on the actions of the Red Army Faction, a West German terrorist group operating in the late 1960s.

DVD Review: The Myth

What does it take to make a multi-million dollar action blockbuster these days? A well known lead? Probably. Decent FX? Undoubtedly. A coherent plot? Would be nice. A relatively short run time that means the film doesn’t outstay its welcome? Yes please.

DVD Review: Max Payne

How do you go about getting creating a new law? Petition members of parliament? Get some like-minded people together and protest in the streets? Start a Facebook group? However you go about it, I’m there: the need to ban films such as Max Payne, or rather the process that gets them into cinemas is urgently needed for the good of society.

DVD Review: Derek

My only encounter with the work of the late painter, author, gay militant, aids activist and, above all, filmmaker Derek Jarman took place in 1993 with the premiere of his twelfth and final film, Blue, in the UK.

DVD Review: Blindsight

For someone who views any type of sport as a crime against nature, just the thought of trekking to the top of Mount Everest is enough to cause me palpitations.

DVD Review: Quantum of Solace

She’s back, and this time it’s personal. Judi Dench returns as M, head of MI6, in Quantum of Solace, the latest film that sees her pit her wits against a recurring character called James Bond who has appeared in each of her action films since 1995’sGoldenEye.

DVD Review: Famous Monster

I like to think of myself as a pretty clued up fan of the sci-fi genre, wearing my geek colours on my sleeve as I watch the latest BSG or plan a visit to a screening of a classic Kubrick.

DVD Review: King Boxer and 36th Chamber of Shaolin

Two of the best known kung-fu movies ever made, both by the legendary Shaw Brothers, King Boxer (aka Five Fingers of Death) and 36th Chamber of Shaolin arrive on DVD on Region 2 from new (Quentin Tarantino inspired) label Dragon Dynasty.

DVD Review: Quarantine

It was a year ago this week that I watched the then new Spanish horror film REC at the Glasgow Film Festival. Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza’s film was one of Spain’s highest grossing movies of the last few years, a claustrophobic and adrenalin fuelled shocker that left some indelible images in my mind.

DVD Review: Burn Notice – Season One

I heart the 80s. At least I heart 80s TV, specifically those 1980s US action /adventure series where the sun always shines, the bad guys never shoot straight, the good guys are framed for a crime they didn’t commit and can make flamethrowers out of a couple of paperclips once a week. Burn Notice updates the 1980s action series to present day Miami with style.

DVD Review: Futurama – Into the Wild Green Yonder

Into the Wild Green Yonder is the final adventure in Futurama’s new lease of life, a story of love, leeches and mind reading that sees the Planet Express crew go eco-friendly as the universe stands on the brink of extinction.