The "sword and sandals" genre isn't exactly known for its subtlety and restraint, but even by those standards, Spartacus: Blood and Sand is deliriously, delightfully over the top. Viewers familiar with the 1960 film starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick, the best-known version of the Spartacus tale, will recognize the basic outline of the story: a Thracian warrior with a beautiful, loving wife is betrayed by his Roman "allies" and forced into slavery, whereupon he distinguishes himself as a gladiator nonpareil and, after enduring countless indignities, leads his brethren and others in a rebellion against their oppressors. But there's a lot more Caligula than Kubrick in the 13 first-season episodes (each a bit less than an hour long) of this Starz television series, which stars Andy Whitfield in the title role and also features Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) as the wicked wife of Spartacus's owner. The fight scenes are highly stylized (the entire production seems to have taken a cue from the surreal, painterly look of 300) but extraordinarily brutal, featuring multiple dismemberments and decapitations amidst seas of slow-motion, CGI-generated blood; a gladiatorial battle in episode 5 pitting Spartacus and his rival-turned-ally Crixus (Manu Bennett) against a monster named Theokoles is definitely not for the squeamish, but that's only one of many such scenes. There's also ample sex and nudity, as the couplings involving various studly gladiators and lustful Roman noblewomen are like salacious combat between Chippendales dancers and Victoria's Secret models. Meanwhile, the personal relationships are the stuff of soap operas, with the Romans in particular depicted as relentlessly decadent, duplicitous, and power-hungry.

If this all sounds outrageously entertaining, it is, though perhaps not for everyone. And although the future of the show (which was executive produced by Spider-Man director Sam Raimi) is in doubt due to Whitfield's ongoing battle with cancer, we'll always have this season to revel in. --Sam Graham

FROM AMAZON UK:

Kenneth Haigh, Nanette Newman and Harry Andrews give compelling performances in this hard-hitting 1973 film tracing the progress of Joe Lampton, the aggressively ambitious protagonist of John Braine's Room at the Top. Offering a grittier treatment than the 1959 film adaptation and the subsequent television series which sequelised Braine's classic novel, Man at the Top is featured here in a brand-new transfer from original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio.

Northerner Joe Lampton becomes involved with Lord Ackerman, the powerful chairman of a pharmaceutical concern, his beautiful wife Alex, and daughter Robin. But trouble starts when Joe is made Managing Director of one of Ackerman's companies and makes a shocking discovery: his predecessor committed suicide...

Collectible box set featuring all 22 James Bond films on Blu-ray disc in one complete offering for the first time.

Collection includes all 22 James Bond feature films from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace and more than 130 hours of bonus features including never-before-seen content from the Bond archives, and more.

One disc of brand new bonus content approximately one hour in length.

9 titles available on Blu-ray for the first time ever: Goldeneye, Octopussy, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, The Living Daylights, Tomorrow Never Dies, Diamonds are Forever, A View to a Kill and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Disc 23--Bonus Material

The World of Bond (NEW)--the 007 films have a look, style and attitude that is signature Bond. From the cars, to the women, to the villains and even the music, Bond films stand apart. The World of Bond takes the viewer through the best of five decades' worth of classic James Bond in one thrilling montage. It also showcases the fascinating and entertaining interplay among unforgettable moments of danger, seduction, adventure and a dash of that distinguished humour that fans have cherished from the beginning. To add to the experience, The World of Bond featurette also offera a Pop-Up Trivia option to challenge even the sharpest of fans with little known facts and interesting trivia from the Bond Universe.
Being Bond (NEW)--there's only one James Bond--but he's proven too much for only one actor to play the role. In the franchise's 50-year run, six distinguished actors have taken on the part and secured a spot in cinematic history. Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig each reflect on the impact and importance of taking on such a famous role. Gain insight into what each actor brought to the character and discover how they shaped the world's most timeless secret agent.
Skyfall Videoblogs--behind-the-scenes look at the making of Skyfall from the cast and crew.
Region B only.

Disc 1--Dr. No (Over three hours of content)

Commentary with director Terence Young and cast and crew.
Six featurettes.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Czech language dubbing and Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese and Cantonese subtitles.
109 minutes run time.
1:66 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 2--From Russia With Love (Over three hours of content)

Commentary with director Terence Young and cast and crew.
Two featurettes.
Animated storyboard sequence.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Czech language dubbing and German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Cantonese subtitles.
110 minutes run time.
1:66 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 3--Goldfinger (Over five hours of content)

Commentary with director Guy Hamilton.
Commentary with the cast and crew.
Three featurettes.
Original screen tests with Theodore Bikel and Tito Vandis.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Original publicity featurette.
Original radio interviews with Sean Connery.
Photo galleries.
Offers French and Spanish language dubbing and German, French, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
109 minutes run time.
1:66 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 4--Thunderball (Over six hours of content)

Commentary with director Terence Young.
Commentary with editor Peter Hunt and screenwriter John Hopkins.
Four featurettes.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers German, French, Spanish and Portuguese language dubbing and German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
130 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 5--You Only Live Twice (Over four hours of content)

Commentary with director Lewis Gilbert and cast and crew.
Four featurettes.
Animated storyboard sequence.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
116 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 6--On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Over four hours of content)

Commentary with director Peter Hunt and cast and crew.
Four featurettes.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers Spanish, French, German, Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
142 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 7--Diamonds Are Forever (Over four hours of content)

Commentary with director Guy Hamilton and cast and crew.
Three featurettes.
Deleted scenes.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
114 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 8--Live and Let Die (Over seven hours of content)

Commentaries with director Guy Hamilton, Roger Moore and Tom Mankiewicz.
Three featurettes.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers German, French and Spanish language dubbing and German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
116 minutes run time.
1:85 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 9--The Man with the Golden Gun (Over five hours of content)

Commentary with director Guy Hamilton and the cast and crew.
Commentary with Roger Moore.
Two featurettes.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers no dubbed languages and no subtitles other than English.
125 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 10--The Spy Who Loved Me (Over five hours of content)

Commentary with director Lewis Gilbert and cast and crew.
Commentary with Roger Moore.
Three featurettes.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
120 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 11--Moonraker (Over five hours of content)

Commentary with director Lewis Gilbert and cast and crew.
Commentary with Roger Moore.
Four featurettes.
Original theatrical trailer.
Photo gallery.
Offers German and French language dubbing and German, French, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
121 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 12--For Your Eyes Only (Over seven hours of content)

Commentary with director John Glen and the cast and crew.
Commentary with Roger Moore.
Commentary with producer Michael G. Wilson and crew.
Four featurettes.
Animated storyboard sequences for snowmobile chase and underwater.
"For Your Eyes Only" music video performed by Sheena Easton.
Deleted scenes and expanded angles.
Original theatrical trailer, TV and radio spots.
Photo galleries.
Offers German, French, Spanish and Portuguese language dubbing and German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
122 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 13--Octopussy (Over six hours of content)

Commentary with director John Glen.
Commentary with Roger Moore.
Four featurettes.
Original screen tests with James Brolin.
"All Time High" music video performed by Rita Coolidge.
Original theatrical trailers.
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
125 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 14--A View to a Kill (Over six hours of content)

Commentary with director John Glen and the cast and crew.
Commentary with Roger Moore.
Four featurettes.
"A View to a Kill" music video performed by Duran Duran.
Original theatrical trailers and TV spots.
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
131 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 15--The Living Daylights (Over five hours of content)

Commentary with director John Glen and cast and crew.
Three featurettes.
Deleted scenes with introductions from director John Glen.
"The Living Daylights" music video performed by A-Ha.
Original theatrical trailers.
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
125 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 16--Licence to Kill (Over six hours of content)

Commentary with director John Glen and cast.
Commentary with producer Michael G. Wilson and crew.
Three featurettes.
"Licence to Kill" music video performed by Gladys Knight.
"If You Asked Me To" music video performed by Patti LaBelle.
Opening titles sequence.
Original theatrical trailers.
Photo galleries.
Offers no dubbed languages and no subtitles other than English.
133 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 17--GoldenEye (Over five hours of content)

Commentary with director Martin Campbell and producer Michael G. Wilson.
Eight featurettes.
Deleted scenes.
"GoldenEye" music video performed by Tina Turner.
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
124 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 18--Tomorrow Never Dies (Over nine hours of content)

Commentary with director Roger Spottiswoode and Dan Petrie, Jr.
Commentary with Vic Armstrong and producer Michael G. Wilson.
Two featurettes.
Interview with composer David Arnold.
Deleted and extended scenes with introduction from director Roger Spottiswoode.
"Tomorrow Never Dies" music video performed by Sheryl Crow.
"The James Bond Theme" (Moby's Re-version).
Offers Spanish, French, German and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
119 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 19--The World is Not Enough (Over six hours of content)

Commentary with director Michael Apted.
Commentary with Peter Lamont, David Arnold and Vic Armstrong.
Four featurettes.
Opening titles sequence.
"The World is Not Enough" music video performed by Garbage.
Deleted, extended and alternate scenes.
Original theatrical trailer.
Photo galleries.
Offers German, French and Czech language dubbing and German, French, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
128 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 20--Die Another Day (Over eight hours of content)

Commentary with director Lee Tamahori and producer Michael G. Wilson.
Commentary with Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike.
Five featurettes.
MI6 datastream trivia track with branching video.
Opening titles sequence.
Photo galleries.
Offers German, French, Spanish and Portuguese language dubbing and German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
126 minutes run time.
2:35 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region free.

Disc 21--Casino Royale (Over one hour of content)

Becoming Bond.
James Bond: For Real.
"You Know My Name" music video performed by Chris Cornell.
Offers Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese language dubbing and Spanish, French, Castilian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish subtitles.
138 minutes run time.
2:40 aspect ratio.
Widescreen format.
Region free.

Disc 22--Quantum of Solace (Over one hour of content)

Two featurettes.
"Another Way to Die" music video performed by Alicia Keys and Jack White.
Original theatrical trailers.
Offers English audio description, German, Spanish and Italian language dubbing and German, Castilian, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles.
101 minutes run time.
2:40 aspect ratio.
Letterboxed format.
Region B only.

THE DEVILS (Special Edition)

A film by Ken Russell

In seventeenth-century France, a promiscuous and divisive local priest, Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed), uses his powers to protect the city of Loudun from destruction at the hands of the establishment. Soon, he stands accused of the demonic possession of Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave), whose erotic obsession with him fuels the hysterical fervour that sweeps through the convent.

With its bold and brilliant direction by Ken Russell, magnificent performances by Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, exquisite Derek Jarman sets and sublimely dissonant score by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, The Devils stands as a profound and sincere commentary on religious hysteria, political persecution and the corrupt marriage of church and state.

Finally available on DVD for the first time, The Devils is presented in the original UK X certificate version with a host of new and exciting extra features.

Special Features

DVD premiere presentation of the original UK X certificate version
Mark Kermode introduction (2012, 2 mins): the broadcaster and critic's newly filmed foreword to The Devils
Audio commentary with Ken Russell, Mark Kermode, Michael Bradsell and Paul Joyce
Hell on Earth (Paul Joyce, 2002, 48 mins): documentary exploring the film's production and the controversial history
Director of Devils(1971, 22 mins): documentary featuring candid Ken Russell interviews and unique footage of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies recording his score
On-set footage with Michael Bradsell commentary(2012, 8 mins)
On-stage Q&A with Ken Russell (2012, 13 mins): the director in conversation with Mark Kermode at the NFT in 2004
Amelia and the Angel (Ken Russell, 1958, 26 mins): a delightful mix of religious allegory and magical fantasy
Original UK trailer
Original US trailer
Fully illustrated booklet featuring new essays by Mark Kermode, Craig Lapper (BBFC), and editor Michael Bradsell, with original production materials and on-set photographs

UK / 1971 / colour / English language, with main feature optional hard-of-hearing subtitles / 107 minutes / Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps) / 1 DVD-9 + 1 DVD-5 / original aspect ratio 2.35:1 (16x9 enhanced)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Based on Stieg Larsson’s literary phenomenon and featuring an award-winning* breakthrough performance by Noomi Rapace, the trilogy follows the unlikely heroine Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist. First as they unite to solve the case of a missing girl and then as they fight to uncover the truth about Salander’s past. A past full of secrets that a mysterious underground Government group would kill to keep hidden.

Now there's more to discover with the extended versions of the films, featuring two hours of never before released† feature content, available in both original Swedish language with English subtitles and English language audio.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo run time: 178mins approx
The Girl who Played with Fire run time: 179mins approx
The Girl who Kicked the Hornets' Nest run time: 178mins approx

Includes Bonus 4th DVD disc totalling 1 hour run time with special feature content^:

Cast interviews including Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth Salander) and Michael Nyqvist (Mikael Blomkvist)
Photo gallery
Vanger family tree
Niedermann vs. Roberto: Behind the Fight Scene

*Noomi Rapace, Best Actress, Empire Awards 2011.
†Not previously released in the UK.
^Content currently available in the UK on the DVD and Blu-ray releases previously released.

After a horrific car accident, Anna (Ricci) wakes up to find the local funeral director Eliot Deacon (Neeson) preparing her body for her funeral. Confused, terrified and feeling still very much alive, Anna doesn't believe she's dead, despite the funeral director's reassurances that she is merely in transition to the afterlife. Eliot convinces her he has the ability to communicate with the dead and is the only one who can help her. Trapped inside the funeral home, with nobody to turn to except Eliot, Anna is forced to face her deepest fears and accept her own death. But Anna's grief-stricken boyfriend Paul (Long) still can't shake the nagging suspicion that Eliot isn't what he appears to be. As the funeral nears, Paul gets closer to unlocking the disturbing truth, but it could be too late; Anna may have already begun to cross over the other side. Written by Anchor Bay Films

Paul Schrader, the director of American Gigolo, brought a similar kind of sexual chic to this explicit horror movie. A remake of the beautiful, haunting 1942 Cat People, this version takes off from the same idea: that a woman (Nastassja Kinski), a member of a race of feline humans, will revert to her animalistic self when she has sex. Arriving to meet her brother (Malcolm McDowell) in New Orleans, she finds herself disturbed by his sexual presence. A zoo curator (John Heard) becomes fascinated by her, but he will discover that her kittenish ways are just the tip of the claw. Schrader dresses the story up in a stylish, glossy production, keyed on Kinski's green-eyed, thick-lipped beauty; it's hard to think of another actress in 1982 who could so immediately suggest a cat walking on two legs. Luckily Kinski had a European attitude toward her body, because this film has plenty of poster-art nudity. There's also lots of gore and some wacky flashbacks to the ancient tribe of cat people, who hold rituals in an orange desert while Giorgio Moroder's music plays. Cat People doesn't really make all this come together, but it's always interesting to look at, and the dreadful mood lingers. --Robert Horton

Scotland Yard’s Jim Naboth (Stacy Keach) battled the bottle instead of London’s seedy underworld and lost. But he finds one chance to get out of life’s gutter when the mob kidnaps his ex-wife in a ruthless $1-million ransom scheme. Director Michael Apted tightens The Squeeze into a penetrating study of people under stress – and a walloping bloody, sexy detective caper in the mold of great British gangland thrillers like Get Carter and The Long Good Friday. He packs it with on-edge performances, starting with Keach (TV’s Mike Hammer) as the hard-drinking cop who’s no match for both booze and sadistic hoods – but is determined to free his ex. Co-starring are Edward Fox (The Day of the Jackal), David Hemmings (Blow-Up), Stephen Boyd (Ben Hur’s chariot-racing villain) and, as the desperate kidnap victim who uses her sexuality as a weapon against her captors, lovely Carol White.

Nomi Malone, a mysterious young girl with the ambition to dance embarks on a journey to Las Vegas to become a showgirl in a high-class hotel show. There she meets Molly, a seamstress at the Stardust Hotel and the two quickly become good friends. She gets a job as a lap dancer at the seedy Cheetah Club but after a chance meeting with Cristal Connors, the star of Goddess, the current show at the hotel where Molly works, Nomi manages to secure an audition for a spot on the chorus line.However she soon realises that fame comes with a price as her friendships, her morals and her soul are put to the test as she works her way up the ladder and eventually becomes the star of the show, stealing Cristal's part. She begins to wonder if all of her work was for nothing and if she can reclaim her life back before it is too late.
Review written by David Rush

Special Features:

* Halloween (TV/FS version With Extra 12 minutes)
* Halloween (Theatrical/WS version)
* Original Theatrical Trailers
* TV Spots
* Radio Spots
* Talent Biographies
* Still and Poster Gallery
* Behind The Scenes Stills Gallery
* 'Halloween Unmasked 2000' Featurette, Produced
and Directed by Mark Cerulli