New Release DVDs - Monday 28th April

Well, here we are nearly at the end of April, a third of the year gone already. It's hard to believe really but I tell you no lies my friends. So,I was just about to pack the DVD player away for the summer (it never really happens does it?), and checked out this weeks new releases, top of the pile was one I have been waiting for:

The Golden Compass
This also comes as a Platinum Series 2 Disc Set and is based on the first book in the best selling trilogy by author Philip Pullman. The set, comprising "Northern Lights", "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass" follow the adventures of Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards), a twelve year old girl who is trying to rescue a friend, Roger (Ben Walker) who has been kidnapped by the mysterious Gobblers.

This, as you can imagine, proves to be far more difficult than a walk in the park. Lyria is taken through different dimensions in a vivid imagined world where we meet the likes of Armoured Polar Bears! Although not strictly following the books (perceived) anti-religious stance this is none the less an exciting fantasy adventure film for all of the family.
With Nicole Kidman playing, for the first time, the antagonist, Lyra's caretaker Marisa Coulter, and the voice of Ian McKellen as Lorek, the armoured polar bear, it is not without a great cast either. Lyra's quest is to save not only her world, but ours as well!
Will the other two books make the big screen? Only time will tell, but I, for one, really hope so. Here is The Golden Compass - Official Trailer from our friends at YouTube.

Benidorm: Series One
All six episodes from the first series of the BAFTA award nominated ITV series written by Derren Litten, who co-wrote the Catherine Tate Show. Featuring a stellar cast of some of the UK's best comedy actors (Johnny Vegas, Wendy Richards), the series focuses on exploiting the commonly perceived working class stereotype of this popular Spanish holiday resort.

As a taster here is a clip from Benidorm: Series One from the good folk at YouTube. Following various families and groups, look out for Gavin and Troy on their first break together, Geoff Maltby and his Mum and my favourites the Garvey family on their first trip abroad along with Janice's Sun worshipping Fag smoking Mum Madge, who has the very realistic knack of having a bad word to say about everybody. You have got to love her!
Easy watching and split into nice handy parts, this is a great DVD for those odd moments (well lots of them actually) when there is nothing to watch on the TV. Want to see some more? A second series comprising eight episodes started to air in March 2008.

Halloween (2007)
Written, produced and directed by famous musician Rob Zombie, his previous offerings "House of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devils Rejects" are both the workings of a genre fanatic and hail close to the ultimate in horror slasher gore movies, and this my good friends is no exception, as you can see by this official "Rob Zombies Halloween Trailer from YouTube.
Both based on, and a prequel to, the original 1978 film of the same name, this the latest in the Halloween franchise starts with a ten year old Michael Myers murdering his sister, her boyfriend and his mothers boyfriend on Halloween eve. After the longest trial in state history Michael is committed to Smiths Grove sanitarium under the supervision of Dr Sam Loomis, where he becomes fixated by his paper mache masks. During one of his mothers frequent visits he kills a nurse, as you would, and she tops herself. During transfer he escapes and makes his way back to Haddonfield where he arrives on, yep you guessed it, Halloween!
The story then picks up the original film which is pretty faithfully replicated. A true gore fest this is not for the faint hearted so grab that cushion before you start watching!

Can't see anything here that appeals to you? Hard to believe, but if not why don't you check out all the Pre Release DVDs at CD WOW!