April 30th 2010:

April 30th :Can Jack & Renee take some time out as the 8th Season continues…

The President needs to rescue the peace deal by getting Dalia to take the reins of the IRK and for Charles Logan toget involved, but how can he help? And what lies in store for Jack and Renee?

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review of24 Season 8: Episode 17is online and the next episode is on Sky 1 on Sunday at 9pm.

The Angels return in Doctor Who…

2007’s Angels from Blink come together with the return of River Song from 2008’s Silence in the Libraryfor the first part of a potential classic of a double-bill, so how did this fare?

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review ofDoctor Who: The Time of Angelsis online and the next episode is on BBC1 on Saturday at 6.25pm.

New films at this cinema this weekend…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of films showing atManchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page, and won’t differmuch from what’s on in the rest of the country.

The new films out include: Iron Man 2 and The Last Song.

April 28th :CHARTS: Usher vs Diana Vickers – Who got the new No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles and albums go up until mid-May 2010.

April 26th :Sam Rockwell has spent a lot of time on the Moon, on Blu-ray…

Out now :

Sam Bell has been on the Sarang moonbase for three years, his contract is up and he’s due to return back to Earthafter having served his country keeping track of the Helium 3 production which is providing back home with an alternateenergy source, but something goes wrong, and what you will see will be the last thing you expect. A wonderful directorialdebut from David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones.

Moonis online and out on Blu-ray and DVD now.

Celtic gems from Ardentsong on CD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertstakes a listen to a new 11-tracker and the second collection of Celtic-tinged gems. While there’s still work to be done,he declares they are definitely ones to watch!

Ardentsong: On The Wireis online now.

Youtube highlight: The Doctor is interrupted by Graham Norton…

Yes, the BBC reached ultimate heights of stupidity when they gatecrashed the final scene of the first part of the’Angels’ two-parter with the ultimate in insensitivity.

CHARTS: Usher vs Diana Vickers – Who got the new No.1…?

Check back shortly for the latest charts on themusic chart analysis page.

New DVD highlights out this week…

Once again, we look at a few titles in more detail.

The titles of note are the following, but read on for further details about the highlights:

• Avatar (29.99 Blu-ray, 24.99 DVD, 39.99 Steelbook Blu-ray, Fox)
• Saving Private Ryan: 2 Disc Special Edition (24.99 Blu-ray, Paramount)
• Mad Men Season 3 (39.99 Blu-ray, 29.99 DVD, 69.99 Season 1-3 Blu-ray-, Lions Gate
• Foyle’s War Series 6 (24.99 DVD, Acorn)
• Lark Rise To Candleford Series 3 (39.99 Blu-ray, 29.99 DVD, BBC)
• Waterloo Road Series 4 Part 2 (24.99 DVD, Acorn)
• Chickenfoot: Get Your Buzz On Live (21.99 Blu-ray, 15.99 DVD, Eagle)
• Channel 4’s Comedy Gala – In Aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital (19.99 DVD, Universal)
• Murder, She Wrote Season 11 (34.99 DVD, Universal)
• Nightwatching (15.99 DVD, Axiom)
• Kojak Season 3 (34.99 DVD, Mediumrare)
• Carriers (19.99 DVD, Paramount)
• Heston’s Feast (19.99 DVD, Acorn)
• The Littlest Hobo Season 1 (29.99 DVD, Mediumrare)
• Ju-on: The Grudge – White And Black Ghost (15.99 DVD, 4Digital Asia)
• Antikrist (24.99 Blu-ray, Da Capo)
• The Girlfriend Experience (19.99 Blu-ray, 15.99 DVD, Revolver)
• Fellini’s Casanova (17.99 DVD, Mr Bongo)
• World War II: Lost Films (24.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, History)

Avatar

After 12 years of thinking about it (and waiting for movie technology to catch up with his visions), James Cameron followed up his unsinkable Titanic with Avatar, a sci-fi epic meant to trump all previous sci-fi epics. Set in the future on a distant planet, Avatar spins a simple little parable about greedy colonizers (that would be mankind) messing up the lush tribal world of Pandora. A paraplegic Marine named Jake (Sam Worthington) acts through a 9-foot-tall avatar that allows him to roam the planet and pass as one of the Na’vi, the blue-skinned, large-eyed native people who would very much like to live their peaceful lives without the interference of the visitors.

Although he’s supposed to be gathering intel for the badass general (Stephen Lang) who’d like to lay waste to the planet and its inhabitants, Jake naturally begins to take a liking to the Na’vi, especially the feisty Neytiri (Zoë Saldana, whose entire performance, recorded by Cameron’s complicated motion-capture system, exists as a digitally rendered Na’vi). The movie uses state-of-the-art 3D technology to plunge the viewer deep into Cameron’s crazy toy box of planetary ecosystems and high-tech machinery. Maybe it’s the fact that Cameron seems torn between his two loves–awesome destructive gizmos and flower-power message mongering–that makes Avatar’s pursuit of its point ultimately uncertain. That, and the fact that Cameron’s dialogue continues to clunk badly.

If you’re won over by the movie’s trippy new world, the characters will be forgivable as broad, useful archetypes rather than standard-issue stereotypes, and you might be able to overlook the unsurprising central plot. (The overextended “take that, Michael Bay” final battle sequences could tax even Cameron enthusiasts, however.) It doesn’t measure up to the hype (what could?) yet Avatar frequently hits a giddy delirium all its own. The film itself is our Pandora, a sensation-saturated universe only the movies could create.

Avatar is out now on Blu-ray (£14.99),DVD (£9.99) andSteelbook Blu-ray (£24.99).

Mad Men Season 3

Matthew Weiner, a writer and executive producer for THE SOPRANOS, may have set this series in the picture-perfect 1960s, but his characters are just as scheming as the mobsters on his last show. MAD MEN begins in 1960 on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue at the fictional ad agency of Sterling Cooper. Creative director Don Draper (Jon Hamm) rules the halls of his company and the hearts of every woman he meets, while his wife, Betty (January Jones), struggles to be the perfect mate and mother back in Connecticut. But just as in the world of advertising, Don may not be all that he appears.

In MAD MEN, the glass ceiling is dangerously low, and sexism reigns in a way that may shock modern viewers. But this isn’t the prim ’60s of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW; Weiner’s characters seduce, smoke, and swig with abandon–often within the walls of Sterling Cooper. MAD MEN takes equal parts substance and style to create an addictive cocktail that fully earned its freshman season wins at the Golden Globes for Best Dramatic Series and Best Actor in a Drama.

Though the Chipmunks are confident they have the songwriting skills to steamroll the competition, a newly formed singing trio dubbed the Chippettes promises to give them some stiff competition on-stage. Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette are indeed the real deal, and the closer the competition gets, the more Alvin, Simon, and Theodore realize that in order to win, they’ll have to give it everything they’ve got.

Mad Men Season 3 is out now on Blu-ray (£28.91),DVD (£17.91).Complete Blu-ray (£58.71) andComplete DVD (£42.91).

Lark Rise To Candleford Series 3

Prepare to immerse yourself in an alien world as if you were standing there yourself. Giant ice fountains rising over 100km high; an ocean hidden beneath a frozen crust of ice; storms twice the size of Earth coloured blood red by a vortex of dust and gases; immense volcanoes that could rip a planet apart – this series reveals the true and awesome beauty of our solar system.

Using the very latest breathtaking images sent directly from space, groundbreaking CGI transforms the static into the dramatic. Travelling from the Sun to the far-out reaches of Neptune, the series has at its heart the latest scientific knowledge beamed back from the fleet of probes, rovers and telescopes currently in space, and offers a vivid and unprecedented tour of the world beyond our planet.

Lark Rise To Candleford Series 3 is out now on Blu-ray (£28.91),DVD (£24.91).Season 2 Blu-ray (£29.99) andComplete DVD (£46.97).

World War II: Lost Films

At first glance, the very concept of WWII in HD seems like an oxymoron. After all, isn’t the footage from back then nothing more than grainy black-and-white newsreel? And really, how much definition can be added to film that was shot more than 60 years ago? The answers: no, and quite a lot, actually. The quality of much of what is seen in the course of these 10 episodes (each around 45 minutes long) is surprisingly good.

Add to that the fact that most of it is in colour (not colourised, but originally recorded in that medium, some at the behest of the United States government), and the result is nothing short of astonishing. It’s not easy viewing; there are sequences that are shockingly graphic (vivid examples include the carnage on view after major battles and the shots of Japanese civilians on the Pacific island of Saipan hurling themselves off cliffs to avoid capture by American troops). But all of it has been put to good use in what is undoubtedly one of the most compelling accounts of World War II ever produced.

World War II: Lost Films is out now on Blu-ray (£14.93) andDVD (£11.97).

April 23rd :Press releases for new games and DVDs…

New press releases are online now for the following:

• The Triumph of Life on DVD
• Britain’s Greatest Machines Series 1 on DVD
• Search for the Afghan Girl on DVD

The latest press releasesare online now.

Can President Hassan be saved in 24 as the 8th Season continues…

He gave himself up to stop the dirty bomb going off, but as Jack and Renee go after him, what will the outcome be?

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review of24 Season 8: Episode 16is online and the next episode is on Sky 1 on Sunday at 9pm.

The Doctor & Amy go up against the Daleks, but with a difference…

The Doctor gets to meet the Daleks for the first (and only?) time this series, but how come they don’t know who he is?And why are they being so damn helpful? And will Amy be wearing a mini-skirt this week? (YES!)

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review ofDoctor Who: Victory of the Daleksis online and the next episode is on BBC1 on Saturday at 6.20pm.

New films at this cinema this weekend…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of films showing atManchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page, and won’t differmuch from what’s on in the rest of the country.

The new films out include: Date Night, It’s a Wonderful Afterlife, Extract, Agora, The Joneses, Cherry Bomb and Centurion.

April 20th :CHARTS: Scouting for Girls vs Usher – Who got the new No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles and albums go up until mid-May 2010.

April 19th :Deal out the justice. It’s a Just Cause, again, on Xbox 360…

Out now :

Just Cause 2, this time sees Agency Agent Rico Rodriguez having to eliminate an oppressive dictator called Baby Panay on the fictional island of Republic of Panau, South East Asia.

Couldn’t they just put Robert Mugabe in there and nickname him “Monkey-faced Hiter-tache”? Anyway, you’ve also got to work with three criminal gangs on the island to track down rogue agent Tom Sheldon who went disappearing during the regime change there. Find him and bump him off.

But is it as good as it sounds? Oh yes…

Just Cause 2is online and out on xbox 360 now.

Stanley Brinks brings some off-the-wall folk-ish delights to CD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsbrings you a real ‘musos’ album, who, under various pseudonyms, has been ploughing his ant-folk thing for several years,occupying a virtually singular space.

Stanley Brinks & The Wave Picturesis online now.

DVDfever music reviewer makes it to BBC Radio 2…

Following the roaring success of his radio show – THE PLUG – on Calon FM, which is now listened to in the USA, Brazil, Holland, Japan, Canada and Spain,DVDfever.co.uk music journalist Elly Roberts has hit the ‘big time’ with a contribution to the UK’s favourite radio channel, BBC Radio 2.

On Monday 12 April, Elly made his Radio 2 debut on the Jeremy Vine daily topical programme, this time broadcast live from his home-town of Wrexham in north Wales, with a potential 8 million listeners.

Four weeks ago Elly was contacted by Jeremy Vine’s producer Chris Walsh-Heron about a contribution to the show. Elly says, ”Out of the blue, the phone rang and Chris asked if I could appear on the show. A date had been set which clashed with my holiday in Torrevieja near Alicante, so I was immediately disappointed.”

“BBC Radio 2 was doing a pre-election special in Wrexham and they wanted to know if there were any potential ‘hot potatoes’ they could broadcast. I came up with the proposed plan to build a category A prison on Wrexham Industrial Estate which has caused a lot of anger in the local community of Abenbury, which I actually live in.”

Elly continues, “Because of my journalistic background, they believed I was ideal for such a programme. They told me that the BBC in London had been ‘tracking’ my contributions to both BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.”

“Initially, it looked like I wouldn’t get the job, but a week later they contacted me again, saying they’d rescheduled the date for two days after my return from Torrevieja. Also, they didn’t tell me that Jeremy Vine was hosting the show, so when they confirmed it was him, I was over the moon.”

During his two week break in Torry, Elly did his research and was well prepared for the show.

“Naturally I was nervous,” Elly revealed. “I had a few sleepless nights. It was my biggest gig so far on radio, with even more pressure, because it had nothing to do with my passion – music.”

“Normally I’m given some idea of the questions in advance, so this time I had to be ready to think fast on my feet.”

Also on the show was Lib-Dem council leader Aled Roberts, someone Elly knew from his childhood days, so things were likely to hot-up as Aled was in the ‘Yes’ camp, and Elly firmly rooted in the ‘No’ camp.

Elly continues, “I arrived at the studio with my friend Les Lever, a local journalist, who was videoing my slot of around 15 minutes. As I walked in I was confronted by Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik who was very friendly.”

After what appeared to be a hectic 25 minutes, it was time for Elly and Aled to enter the lions den.

“I went straight over to Jeremy, shook his hand and introduced myself. Pretty soon we were on-air, with questions and answers fired like bullets. We were due to have 15 minutes, but were cut short due to scheduling constraints, with a youth band slotted in after us, to close the show.”

When the show was over Elly had a chance for a quick chat with Jeremy, a photo op, and autograph for his ever expanding collection of celebrity ‘scalps’.

“Jeremy was very charming and easy to talk to, which put us all at our ease, “Elly said. “I’ve learnt a great deal from this experience which I hope to carry-over into my own radio show on Calon FM. Since the BBC show, I have been invited to sit-in on one of Jeremy’s shows at Western House in London, home of Radio 2, which is an even bigger thrill.”

Elly has had a long-standing ambition to be a broadcaster with the BBC and he now feels he has the skills and knowledge to ‘live the dream’.

Elly concluded,”I have now presented my CV to Radio 2 and I hope that something really big will happen in the future.”

Hear Elly’s show between 2-4PM (UK time) every Monday on CalonFM.com. Just click on either of the images above to access the site.

Youtube highlight: Ben Bradshaw and his evil fake smile…

The creepy Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport gives the most horrendous fake smile you ever will see….

CHARTS: Scouting for Girls vs Usher – Who got the new No.1…?

Check back shortly for the latest charts on themusic chart analysis page.

New DVD highlights out this week…

Once again, we look at a few titles in more detail.

The titles of note are the following, but read on for further details about the highlights:

• The Box (17.99 Blu-ray, 17.99 DVD, Icon)
• Curry And Chips: The Complete Series (11.99 DVD, Network)
• Gilmore Girls Season 6 (29.99 DVD, Warner)
• Hamlet (24.99 Blu-ray, BBC)
• Hot Metal Series 2 (11.99 DVD, Network)
• The Marine 2 (15.99 DVD, 19.99 Boxset, Fox)
• Meatloaf Live in concert (11.99 DVD, Intergroove)
• The Men Who Stare At Goats (24.99 Blu-ray, 17.99 DVD, Momentum)
• Nine (24.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, EIV)
• Ross Kemp: Middle East (15.99 DVD, 2 Entertain)
• The Thick Of It Series 3 (19.99 DVD, 34.99 Complete DVD, BBC)
• Widows Complete Box Set (19.99 DVD, Fremantle)

The Men Who Stare At Goats

The Men Who Stare At Goats is an hilarious comedy inspired by a real life story you will hardly believe is true.

Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) who claims to be part of “The New Earth Army”, an experimental US Army unit. According to Cassady, a legion of psychic warriors with unparalleled powers can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program’s founder, Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), has gone missing and Cassady’s mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance’s far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to accompany him on the search.

Inspired by Jon Ronson’s bestselling book, this is an eye-opening and hilarious comedy led by an all-star cast.

The Men Who Stare At Goats is out now on Blu-ray (£14.91) andDVD (£10.98).

The Thick Of It Series 3

The Prime Minister decides to reshuffle his cabinet in an attempt to look like he’s doing something. Except no-one with any sense wants to join him on the bridge as the ship appears to be going down. So his chief enforcer Malcolm Tucker is having a hard time finding ministers prepared to volunteer for suicide watch in the run up to the general election.

Enter Nicola Murray MP: a woman so far down the list that Malcolm doesn’t even have a file on her, but who can be flattered and bullied into accepting the Cabinet post that no-one wants: Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Citizenship. Nicola’s got plenty of ideas though – but ideas cost money and in the current climate that means trouble. This series follows Nicola and her used-up team of advisors as they struggle to achieve anything at all under Malcolm’s watchful eye. Elsewhere Nicola’s opposite number Peter Mannion and his team finally sense victory is within their grasp, even if they aren’t too sure what to do with it when they get it. Being in power is a good thing, right?

The Thick Of It Series 3 is out now on DVD (£12.91) andCollection (£23.47).

Nine

From the creative team behind the Oscar-winning adaptation of CHICAGO comes a lavish feature take on the Tony award-winning musical inspired by Federico Fellini’s whimsical classic 8 1/2. Directed by Rob Marshall, NINE details the effort made by world-class filmmaker Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis – THERE WILL BE BLOOD) in realising his latest cinematic vision while simultaneously balancing his relationships with the many passionate and influential women in his life, including his mistress, Carla (Penelope Cruz – ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER), and wife, Luisa (Marion Cotillard – LA VIE EN ROSE).

Original lyricist and composer Maury Yeston serves as co-executive producer for the filmed version of his own 1982 Broadway hit. Kate Hudson (ALMOST FAMOUS), Nicole Kidman (MOULIN ROUGE), Sophia Loren (EL CID), Fergie (of the Black Eyed Peas), and Judi Dench (MRS. BROWN) co-star in this glitz-laden musical extravaganza.

Nine is out now on Blu-ray (£15.91) andDVD (£10.99).

The Box

Screen siren Cameron Diaz and former X-Man James Marsden star in the supernatural horror picture The Box (2008), directed by DONNIE DARKO cult favorite Richard Kelly. The film’s premise involves a strange and ominous box granted to a young couple by a mysterious stranger (Frank Langella). They are informed that pressing various buttons on the box will grant them riches while killing a person unknown to them in the process. Executive produced by Ted Hamm, the film was adapted by Kelly from Richard Matheson’s 1970 short story ‘Button, Button’.

The Box is out now on Blu-ray (£10.99) andDVD (£10.93).

April 16th :Press releases for new games and DVDs…

New press releases are online now for the following:

• Road To Perdition on Blu-ray and DVD
• Delgo on DVD
• Gentlemen Broncos on DVD
• Nier on Xbox 360 and PS3

The latest press releasesare online now.

New films at this cinema this weekend…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of films showing atManchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page, and won’t differmuch from what’s on in the rest of the country.

The new films out include: The Ghost, Repo Men, Dear John, The Heavy and Cemetery Junction.

April 15th :The Doctor & Amy discover The Beast Below…

Earth is gone and the entire UK is travelling about on a ship on the back of a big whale, but there are some evilSmiler creatures which need dealing with. What could’ve turned out to be the most bland of tales actually comes acrossas a very well-crafted one once you’ve seen it all and thought it through.

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review ofDoctor Who: The Beast Belowis online and the next episode is on BBC1 on Saturday at 6.30pm.

April 14th :Will the bomb go off? in 24 as the 8th Season continues…

Well, time will tell, but at the same time the bad guys also want Hassan and they’ll take him in return for switching thebomb off. Will they do it?

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review of24 Season 8: Episode 15is online and the next episode is on Sky 1 on Sunday at 9pm.

April 13th :CHARTS: Scouting for Girls vs Plan B – Who got the new No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles and albums go up until mid-May 2010.

April 12th :George A Romero brings you another dead tale in Survival of The Dead on Blu-ray…

Out now :

The O’Flynns and the Muldoons have been warring for years on the otherwise tranquil island of Plum, Delaware, but canthey come together to defeat the zombies when they take over, or will the army have to help them out?

Survival of the Deadis online and out on Blu-ray and DVD now.

A bit of a cold shoulder from Akai on CD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsstates of this release that there’s nothing icy cold about this album, because its both warm and engaging, full ofmelodic and accessible songs with great hooks, but they’re definitely not ‘pop’ songs per say, more like indie-pop.

Akai: The Coldest Hour (Is Just Before The Dawn)is online now.

Youtube highlight: Laura Tobin answers questions with odd socks on…

A lovely segment from The Weather Show, with a great little blooper later on.

CHARTS: Scouting for Girls vs Plan B – Who got the new No.1…?

Check back shortly for the latest charts on themusic chart analysis page.

New DVD highlights out this week…

Once again, we look at a few titles in more detail.

The titles of note are the following, but read on for further details about the highlights:

• Alvin And The Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel (28.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, Fox)
• Being Human Series 2 (29.99 Blu-ray, 24.99 DVD, BBC)
• Clash Of The Gods (19.99 Blu-ray, 17.99 DVD, History)
• Dancing On Ice Series 5 (19.99 DVD, ITV)
• The Descent Part 2 (28.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, 22.99 Double DVD Boxset, Fox)
• Dinosaur Secrets (Jurassic Fight Club): Season 1 (19.99 DVD, History)
• Dolan’s Cadillac (19.99 Blu-ray, 15.99 DVD, Showbox)
• Glee Season 1: Road to Sectionals (27.99 DVD, Fox)
• Jonathan Creek: The Judas Tree (15.99 DVD, BBC)
• Law Abiding Citizen (24.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, Momentum)
• Law & Order Season 7 (44.99 DVD, Universal)
• Midsomer Murders: The Sword Of Guillaume (15.99 DVD, Acorn)
• Raging Phoenix (24.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, Showbox)
• Strictly Confidential (19.99 DVD, IMC)
• A Touch of Frost Series 15 (19.99 DVD, ITV)
• Wonders Of The Solar System (24.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, BBC)

Being Human Series 2

BEING HUMAN is a bizarre, supernatural sitcom from the BBC that revolves around the concept of two young men—Mitchell and George–sharing a flat. While this seems like a tried and tested formula for television the twist is that Mitchell (Aidan Turner – THE TUDORS) is a vampire and George (Russell Tovey – LITTLE DORRIT, THE HISTORY BOYS) is a werewolf. Complicating matters further is pair’s newfound home is haunted by the ghost of Annie (Lenora Crichlow – SUGAR RUSH). Included all the episodes from the show’s first series.

Being Human Series 2 is out now on Blu-ray (£17.91),DVD (£15.91).Double Blu-ray (£26.97) andDouble DVD (£23.48).

Alvin And The Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore meet their musical match after returning to school and entering into a battle of the bands competition in hopes of saving the school’s troubled music program. Sent to live with Dave Seville’s younger nephew Toby (Zachary Levi), the three lovable marmots decide that getting an education is more important than belting out pop tunes. But the school’s music program is about to go belly up, and the only way to save it is to win the 25,000-dollar prize in the upcoming battle of the bands.

Though the Chipmunks are confident they have the songwriting skills to steamroll the competition, a newly formed singing trio dubbed the Chippettes promises to give them some stiff competition on-stage. Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette are indeed the real deal, and the closer the competition gets, the more Alvin, Simon, and Theodore realize that in order to win, they’ll have to give it everything they’ve got.

Alvin And The Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel is out now on Blu-ray (£17.91),DVD (£11.91).Double Blu-ray (£23.97) andDouble DVD (£14.91).

Wonders Of The Solar System

Prepare to immerse yourself in an alien world as if you were standing there yourself. Giant ice fountains rising over 100km high; an ocean hidden beneath a frozen crust of ice; storms twice the size of Earth coloured blood red by a vortex of dust and gases; immense volcanoes that could rip a planet apart – this series reveals the true and awesome beauty of our solar system.

Using the very latest breathtaking images sent directly from space, groundbreaking CGI transforms the static into the dramatic. Travelling from the Sun to the far-out reaches of Neptune, the series has at its heart the latest scientific knowledge beamed back from the fleet of probes, rovers and telescopes currently in space, and offers a vivid and unprecedented tour of the world beyond our planet.

Wonders Of The Solar System is out now on Blu-ray (£15.91) andDVD (£12.91).

Law Abiding Citizen

Jamie Foxx (RAY, THE SOLOIST) stars as an assistant DA who finds himself at the mercy of a spiteful vigilante (Gerard Butler – ROCKNROLLA, 300) hell-bent on avenging the death of his wife and daughter, whose murderers are set free due to legal loopholes. F. Gary Gray (THE NEGOTIATOR) directs from a script by Frank Darabont (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) and Kurt Wimmer (EQUILIBRIUM).

Law Abiding Citizen is out now on Blu-ray (£14.91) andDVD (£11.99).

April 9th :The Doctor returns in a new guise and with a new assistant…

Yes, the Doctor is now played by the eccentric-looking Matt Smith and his hot assistant is Karen Gillan as Amy Pond.I think this is a fantastic start to the new series and with Russell T Davies and his crap scripts out of the way,Steven Moffat is in charge and ready to take over and reboot the series again!

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review ofDoctor Who: The Eleventh Houris online and the next episode is on BBC1 on Saturday at 6.15pm.

President Hassan is in danger in 24 as the 8th Season continues…

But as the show grinds along slowly, how many of us wish him and his silly bouffant hairdo would get bumped off anyway?The sillyness continues…

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on Dan’s Media Digest.

A review of24 Season 8: Episode 14is online and the next episode is on Sky 1 on Sunday at 9pm.

New films at this cinema this weekend…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of films showing atManchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page, and won’t differmuch from what’s on in the rest of the country.

The new films out include: The Infidel, Shelter and Whip It!.

April 8th :CHARTS: Lady Gaga vs Scouting for Girls – Who got the new No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles and albums go up until mid-May 2010.

April 6th :Dare you stray into District 9 on Blu-ray and DVD?…

Out now :

In Hollywood blockbusters, aliens have been known to target big cities like Washington DC and London, but in this low-budgetmovie, they appear above Johannesburg and then their ship grinds to a halt. Having been housed in shanty towns belowthe ship for over 20 years, they’re really outstaying their welcome and everyone just wants rid, but that really isn’teasy when the man tasked with evicting them is hapless civil servant Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley).

District 9is online and out on Blu-ray and DVD now.

April 5th :Dolph & Van Damme are back for a Universal Soldier rematch on Blu-ray…

Released today :

Conveniently forgetting the Dolph-less sequel, terrorists have struck and normal guys just don’t cut the mustard whenit comes to dealing with this problem. So it’s time to reactivate the bad boys for one last mission, with one in particularyou thought had gone for good…

Universal Soldier: Regenerationis online and out on Blu-ray and DVD now.

Rootin’ tootin’ rock… from Kentucky on CD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsstates that if there was ever a band that captures the spirit of the Stones, then it’s Yardsale. This Louisville quintetsure know how to rock in the classic mould, showing all the swagger of early Jagger and co. from the early 60s.Check out their new 12-tracker in this review.

Yardsale: Knock Alley Westis online now.

Youtube highlight: Karen Gillan talks about Doctor Who on GMTV…

The yummy new assistant appeared on GMTV to talk about her role in the new series.

CHARTS: Lady Gaga vs Scouting for Girls – Who got the new No.1…?

Check back shortly for the latest charts on themusic chart analysis page.

New DVD highlights out this week…

Once again, we look at a few titles in more detail.

The titles of note are the following, but read on for further details about the highlights:

• 30 Rock Season 3 (24.99 DVD, Universal)
• Blood And Oil (19.99 DVD, BBC)
• Burn Notice Season 2 (24.99 DVD, Fox)
• Eloise (14.99, TLA)
• His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2 disc set) (14.99 DVD, Stax)
• Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (74.99, Blu-ray)
• Married Single Other (24.99 Blu-ray, 19.99 DVD, 2 Entertain)
• Number 10 (19.99 DVD, ITV)
• Rock ‘N’ Chips (17.99 DVD, Lions Gate)
• Universal Soldier Regeneration (19.99 Blu-ray, 15.99 DVD, Optimum)

Lord Of The Rings Trilogy

The Lord of the Rings, the highest grossing adventure film franchise to ever be created, was born with the release of The Fellowship of the Ring, followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The Trilogy’s Blu-ray release captures the enduring Fellowship and ultimate sacrifice while enhancing the chaos and destruction of Middle-earth, delivering a visual feast that will not soon, if ever, find its equal. Of the 30 total Academy Award nominations the three The Lord of the Rings movies received, they won a record 17 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and 8 others for the third film. Based on the best-selling novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy is an epic journey of men, hobbits, elves, dwarves and the rest of Middle-earth’s creatures and cultures. The films chronicle the struggle of good versus evil with fantastic special effects and a strong emotional centre.

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy contains the original theatrical versions of the three films on Blu-ray Disc, with more than seven hours of special features.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy tells the story of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a hobbit who battles against the Dark Lord Sauron to save his world, Middle-earth, from the grip of evil. In the films, Frodo and his fellowship of friends and allies embark on a desperate journey to rid Middle-earth of the source of Sauron’s greatest strength, the One Ring–a ring that has the power to enslave the inhabitants of Middle-earth. The trilogy tells tales of extraordinary adventures across the treacherous landscape of Middle-earth and reveals how the power of friendship, love and courage can hold the forces of darkness at bay. Beside Wood, the films star Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, featuring Sean Bean, and Ian Holm, with Andy Serkis as Gollum.

Lord Of The Rings Trilogy is out now on Blu-ray (£39.89).

Married Single Other

Six friends discover the difficulties of living with, and without, the one you love. When does compromise become sacrifice, and when do they both become divorce? Sexy, funny and painfully honest, this drama tells the story of three couples who are trying to work out exactly what a ‘couple’ is these days. Through love, passion, heartbreak and tragedy Lillie, Eddie, Clint, Abbey, Babs and Dickie contemplate the meaning of ‘happily ever after’ and ponder the conundrum of always wanting what you just can’t have.

Married Single Other is out now on Blu-ray (£15.93) andDVD (£12.71).

Burn Notice Season 2

When intelligence agencies need to dispense with one of their spies they serve a burn notice. A burn notice informs other agencies that the spy has become unreliable, effectively ending his or her career. BURN NOTICE follows Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), whose intelligence career comes to an abrupt halt after a botched job in Nigeria. Westen returns home to Miami, Florida, only to discover that he has been cut off from all his contacts in the agency and his bank account has been frozen. Without a penny to his name, Westen decides to work as an unlicensed private investigator, using the money he makes to launch his own investigation into his fate with the intelligence agency. Westen’s new career presents him with plenty of opportunities to delve into Miami’s seedy underbelly, with drug dealers, gunrunners, prostitution rings, and gangsters all coming under his watchful eye. Features the complete second series of the show.

Burn Notice Season 2 is out now on DVD (£17.93).

30 Rock Season 3

Re-enjoy the complete third season of the Primetime Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning comedy 30 Rock, hailed by The New York Times as “its third season” and by The Sun as a “comedy… shown on NBC… [which is a] network.” Primetime Emmy®, Golden Globe® and SAG® Award winner (and show creator) Tina Fey and Primetime Emmy®, Golden Globe® and SAG® Award winner Alec Baldwin star as corporate executive Jack Donaghy and TV writer Liz Lemon (reverse respectively).

Together, Jack and Liz manage the workplace chaos with no help from Liz’s loose-cannon stars Tracy Jordan and Jenna Maroney (Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski) and hapless NBC page Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer). The end result is topless break-dancing, professional tetherball, geriatric kidnapping, bird murder, sexual espionage, Appalachian witchcraft, patricide, gay lion tattoos and important life lessons learned from sasquatches.

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary by Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Alan Alda, Jack McBrayer, Jane Krakowski and more
• Deleted scenes
• Behind-the-Scenes with the Muppets
• 1-900-OKFACE
• Season Finale Table Read
• The Making of “Kidney Now!”
• Photo Gallery

30 Rock Season 3 is out now on DVD (£15.99).

April 2nd :A second selection of Afro sounds on CD..

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsreally enjoyed this this recent release on Soundway which comes almost two years after Volume 1 and features an abundanceof talent that created Modern Highlife and Nigerian blues between 1970 and 1976.

Nigeria Special Volume 2is online and out on CD now.

The mole is revealed in 24 as the 8th Season continues…

After last week’s excellent episode, sadly this one is back to its usual dull form and when the mole is revealed,I felt the entire show jumped the shark!

Find out what DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen made of this episode in this new review,which premiered on his excellent site, Dan’s Media Digest.

A review of24 Season 8: Episode 13is online and the next episode is on Sky 1 on Sunday at 9pm.

New films at this cinema this weekend…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of films showing atManchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page, and won’t differmuch from what’s on in the rest of the country.

The new films out include: Clash of the Titans (2010), Kick Ass, Remember Me and How To Train Your Dragon.

April 1st :CHARTS: Lady Gaga vs Usher – Who got the new No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles and albums go up until mid-May 2010.

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