September 30th 2008:

September 30th :The Watson Twins release their full-length debut on CD…

Released during the summer, although this pair are big on the LA folk/country/rockscene, while this 11-track release isn’t perfect,DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsconfirms it’s still a very good start.

Watson Twins: Fire Songsis online and out now on CD.

New DVD highlights out this week…

In a slight change from the norm, we look at a few titles in more detail.

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

• Army Of Darkness – Evil Dead 3 (19.99 Blu-ray, Optimum)
• Caligula (Imperial Edition) (24.99, Arrow)
• Cassandra’s Dream (17.99, Optimum)
• Cybill Complete Season 1-4 Box Set (79.99, Anchor Bay) – B001AS7V5S
• Doctor Who – The Trial Of A Time Lord (49.99, BBC) – B001ARYYNG
• The Eagles: Farewell Tour – Live From Melbourne (17.99 HD-DVD, Warner Music)
• Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn (19.99 Blu-ray, Optimum)
• How The West Was Won (15.99, Warner)
• The Incredible Hulk: Complete Season 1-5 (99.99, Universal) – B001870VOY
• Loaded (15.99, Icon)
• Lost In Austen (19.99, ITV DVD) – B0014T7ETQ
• Made Of Honour (19.99 DVD, 24.99 Blu-ray, Sony)
• Mongol – The Rise To Power Of Genghis Khan (19.99 DVD, 24.99 Blu-ray, Universal)
• One Missed Call (15.99 DVD, 27.99 Blu-ray, Warner)
• Robot Chicken Season 1 (19.99, Revolver)
• Zodiac: Director’s Cut (19.99 DVD, 27.99 Blu-ray, Warner)

Doctor Who: The Trial Of A Time Lord:

Few of Doctor Who’s long-standing fans will tell you that The Trial Of A Time Lord is a story that hits their top ten list, and with good reason. A 14-episode opus that formed an entire series of Colin Baker’s reign in the Tardis, it’s a patchy production, that does have some qualities to it, but is probably one for the hardened Who fan rather than the casual viewer.

The key to the story is that the Doctor is on trial, facing a potential death penalty, and the courtroom saga works as a backdrop to a collection of stories that sit on top. So there’s The Mysterious Planet, which is a decent enough yarn, the weak and puzzling Mindwarp, the surprisingly enjoyable Terror Of The Vervoids, and then the twisty The Ultimate Foe.

While The Trial Of A Time Lord does have a few notable missteps, with some occasionally muddled writing, and while it does introduce arguably the worst companion the Doctor has ever travelled with (Bonnie Langford’s Mel), it’s still a fascinating series to watch, warts and all. Fortunately, it’s backed by a substantive collection of extras, including numerous commentaries and documentaries, that provide an honest glance back at a story that arrived in the midst of one of Doctor Who’s most troubled periods.

Doctor Who: The Trial Of A Time Lord is out now on DVD (£37.49).

Zodiac: Director’s Cut.

David Fincher’s (FIGHT CLUB, SE7EN) adaptation of the Robert Graysmith book masterfully transports viewers to the Bay Area in the 1960s and ’70s by drawing on actual case files from the notoriously unsolved Zodiac killer mystery. As a murderer with seemingly random targets starts sending terrifying threats and cryptic codes to police and publishers all around San Francisco, fear and paranoia descend on the city. Through slow pacing, Fincher creates an effectively chilling atmosphere in which he spins a thick web of character-driven plotlines. Early scenes depicting the Zodiac’s first-known murders vividly capture the victim’s fear and agony and will leave viewers haunted.

When the Zodiac’s ciphers arrive at the San Francisco Chronicle, they spark the interest of Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a young cartoonist with a penchant for puzzles. As the former Boy Scout earnestly tries to decode the messages, eccentric reporter Paul Avery approaches the case from a career-boosting angle. Meanwhile, a string of investigators from four jurisdictions carry on a complex and unsatisfying search for the elusive killer. Inspectors Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) at times collide with Avery and Graysmith, whose interest in the case extends long after most have given up.

Even at two-and-a-half hours in length, this dense murder mystery should manage to keep its audience riveted throughout. Paired with stellar performances from Ruffalo, Downey, Gyllenhaal, and countless others, a clever script produces well-developed characters, and the film’s art direction, music, and costumes all combine to create an authentic sense of time and place. The sombre tone of the atmospheric thriller gives the film a documentary-like aesthetic at times, lending weight to the story’s facts while never relying on cheap tricks. Unlike murder mysteries such as THE BLACK DAHLIA, ZODIAC invites viewers to develop theories of their own, allowing them to come to their own conclusions.

Zodiac: Director’s Cut is out now on DVD (£11.98) andBlu-ray (£16.98).

The Incredible Hulk: Complete Season 1-5:

Bill Bixby stars in this classic television series inspired by the comic book, which ran from 1978 to 1982. When withdrawn research scientist David Banner is accidentally exposed to toxic radiation, even the smallest agitation transforms him from man to monster. Bright green and enormous, the Incredible Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) crushes anyone in his path, defeating his enemies left and right.

Features all five series in their entirety.

The Incredible Hulk: Complete Season 1-5 is out now on DVD (£74.98).

Cybill Complete Season 1-4 Box Set.

Cybill Shepherd stars as Cybill Sheridan, a woman who has it all, two spiteful daughters (Dedee Pfeiffer and Alicia Witt), two clingy ex-husbands (Alan Rosenberg and Tom Wopat), an outrageous best friend (Christine Baranski), an unstable future and a house on an eroding LA hillside. But with humour and determination, Cybill braves each new challenge that comes her way, while having the time of her life discovering that life after forty is anything but downhill.

This 16 disc box set contains all 87 episodes from all four series and features guest appearances by Tim Matheson, Morgan Fairchild, Bruce Davison, Jonathan Frakes, Kevin Sorbo, Ellen Greene, Stephen Root, Dick Van Patten, Peter Krause, Tracy Scoggins, Brian Keith, Wendy Malick, Chad Everett, Dom DeLuise, Denver Pyle, Ray Baker, Dan Castellaneta, Peter Coyote, Mary Page Keller, Robert Stack, Charles Durning, Seth Green and William Forsythe plus many more.

Cybill Complete Season 1-4 Box Set is out now on DVD (£56.98).

September 29th :Pure adrenaline blasts are the intention of Pure on Xbox 360…

Quad bike racing, pulling stunts, catching air and getting to the head of thepack is what this new title is all about, but is it worth a drive?

Pureis online and out now on Xbox 360.

Animation shorts aplenty on a new DVD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Helen Jeromereturns with a new 2-hour DVD that, as she confirms, is very much an arthousekind of “Now That’s What I Call Short Films” with a classic selection ofexcellent pieces of work that command your attention.

Adventures in Future Shorts Vol.1is online and out now on DVD.

Prison Break’s third card sits in an uncrackable safe as Season 4 continues…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen returns with reviewsof the eagerly awaited fourth season of Prison Break, and this time there’sa number of obstacles, one after another, potentially stopping our gang fromgetting the data from the third of six Scylla cards.

A review ofPrison Break Season 4: Episode 5is online and the series continues on Sky 1 tomorrow night at 10pm.

The new DVD releases will follow tomorrow.

New DVD comps online…

Please enter the competitions listed below by clicking on the packshoton the right.

• Takeshi Kitano Collection on DVD
• John Carpenter Collection on DVD
• ER Season 12 on DVD

CHARTS: Kings Of Leon vs Alicia Keys – who got the No.1…?

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

Also, the new DVD releases for this week will be online tomorrow.

September 26th :Press releases for new games and DVDs…

New press releases are online now for the following:

• The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash 30th Anniversary Editions on DVD
• Guard Post on DVD
• High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! on Nintendo Wii, DS and Sony PS2
• Xbox 360 hits six million in Europe
• The Zombies: Odessey and Oracle Live Tour in 2009

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 atManchcester 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: Taken, Appaloosa, Swing Vote, Redbelt, Death Race and Righteous Kill.

September 24th :CHARTS: Kings of Leon vs. Will Young – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until early Novemberwith albums also until November 2008.

September 23rd :Portico Quartet release a Mercury-nominated CD…

Released towards the end of last year,DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertslists many reasons why the debut from this modern jazz instrumental combo should be on your purchase list and why they were nominated for the prize which wasscooped by Elbow last week.

Portico Quartet: Knee-Deep In The North Seais online and out now on CD.

September 22nd :Blow the hell out of everything in Battlefield: Bad Company on Xbox 360…

Destructible environments are all the rage in this crash/bang/wallop pieceof fun as you take part in a Eurasian conflict in the near future, as youand three other guys set about on a little personal mission to keep some ofthe wealth for yourself. Turn the amplifier up to 11 when you fire off thatrocket launcher!

Battlefield: Bad Companyis online and out now on Xbox 360.

Joan Baez’s potential swansong on CD…

It could possibly be her final album, but while her voice has jaded somewhat,she still fills her 24th release with collaborations such as Steve Earle,Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and Patty Griffin, but what doesDVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Elly Robertsmake of it?

Joan Baez: Day After Tomorrowis online and out now on CD.

Prison Break’s second card-holder could be hard to access as Season 4 continues…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen returns with reviewsof the eagerly awaited fourth season of Prison Break, and this time there’sa number of obstacles, one after another, potentially stopping our gang fromgetting the data from the second of six Scylla cards.

A review ofPrison Break Season 4: Episode 4is online and the series continues on Sky 1 tomorrow night at 10pm.

New DVD comps online…

Please enter the competitions listed below by clicking on the packshoton the right.

• ER Season 12 on DVD

CHARTS: Kings Of Leon vs Will Young – who got the No.1…?

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

New DVD highlights out this week…

In a slight change from the norm, we look at a few titles in more detail, as there’s not a lot out at the moment.

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

• Sex and the City: The Movie (24.99 DVD, 29.99 Blu-ray, Paramount)
• The Wire: Season 5 (39.99, Warner)
• Annie Leibovitz – Life Through A Lens (19.99, ICA Films)
• Saxondale Series 2 (19.99, BBC)
• Oz Season 6 (29.99, Paramount)
• Bloodrayne 2: Deliverance (15.99 DVD, 19.99 Blu-ray, Metrodome)

Sex and the City: The Movie:

The silver-screen version of SEX AND THE CITY is sure to inspire lust, though it may not be after its sexy male cast. Instead, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her friends wear enviable fashions from the industry’s biggest names such as Zac Posen, Louis Vuitton, and, of course, Manolo Blahnik, and their gorgeous clothes–and accessories–threaten to steal the show. But for fans of the series’ wit, drama, and sex, there’s plenty to like in this romantic comedy filled with familiar characters.

Though four years have passed since the events of the series, not much has changed as the film begins: Carrie and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) are happy as they search for an apartment, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is blissful with her husband (Evan Handler) and adopted daughter, Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is still with actor Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is trying to balance life as a mother, wife, and lawyer as she lives in Brooklyn with Steve (David Eigenberg). But Carrie and Big’s apartment hunt leads them down the road to marriage, and the destination may not be quite everything Carrie hoped for.

Though the film runs nearly two and a half hours, it flies by the way a marathon of episodes would for the devoted. Even minor characters from the show–Vogue editor Enid Frick (Candice Bergen), beloved Carrie pal Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson), and hyper wedding planner Anthony Marentino (Mario Canton)–make fan-pleasing appearances. SEX AND THE CITY is full of glitz, glamour, and giggles, but be sure to have a tissue nearby. These characters have become like friends to fans, and it’s tough not to tear up when things don’t go exactly as they’d hoped.

Sex and the City: The Movie is out now on DVD (£14.98) andBlu-ray (£17.98)

The Wire: Season 5.

The Wire Season 5 concludes the award-winning TV series with a bang. The bodies are piling up in Homicide, but funds forpolice work have been diverted to the schools. Meanwhile business is booming on the streets as the war between East andWest Baltimore’s drug kings reaches a new intensity. McNulty is drinking again. Bubs is clean again. Omar is back witha vengeance and Carcetti is struggling to make a difference as Mayor. After taking us through the streets, the docks, thecorridors of power and the schools, The Wire brings us to the Baltimore media, where the successes and tragedies of allof our favourite characters become ammunition in the battle for circulation figures.

The Wire: Season 5 is out now on DVD (£27.98).

Oz Season 6:

The sixth and final season of HBO’s prison drama Oz–which aired in 2003–is brutal, passionate, and gritty. Compellingly addictive with taut storylines and superb acting, each of the eight episodes on this 3-disc set nicely paves the way for the series finale, which wraps the show up in a satisfying (and surprising) manner. Often told through the eyes (and voice) of deceased prisoner Augustus Hill (Harold Perrineau, Lost), Oz isn’t an easy show to watch. Inmates are routinely raped, tortured, and killed–not out of need, but out of boredom and cruelty.And in a corrupt system where too few bureaucrats actually care about these men’s lives, few are willing to do anything about it. Those that do give a damn–Sister Peter Marie (Rita Moreno, West Side Story), Father Mukada (B.D. Wong, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Dr. Nathan (Lauren Velez), Warden Glynn (Ernie Hudson), McManus (Terry Kinney)–face an uphill battle.

One of the strongest storylines is the ongoing romance between murderer Keller (Christopher Meloni, Law & Order: SVU) and Beecher (Lee Tergesen), who’s hoping to be paroled. Series creator Tom Fontana doesn’t allow their arc to be diluted by any idealistic expectations. The viewer is acutely aware that Beecher is an easy target for annihilation whether or not he is released from prison. The viewer is never quite as certain of Keller’s motives–whether they’re borne of love and affection, or a selfish need to satisfy his own primal urges.

Like Beecher, Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo) is trying to keep his own nose clean in the hopes that he’ll be eligible for parole three years down the line. It’s easy to understand the almost suffocating feeling he lives every day, knowing that three years may as well be a lifetime when you’re behind bars and the target of both your former gang and the Aryan brothers, led by Schillinger (J.K. Simmons, Law & Order: SVU, the Spider-Man films). And Ryan (Dean Winters) desperately tries to save his mentally retarded brother Cyril (played by Dean’s real-life sibling Scott William Winters) from being executed.

Oz Season 6 is out now on DVD (£17.99).

Bloodrayne 2: Deliverance.

Uwe Boll helms this follow-up to his own action-packed first film from 2006. The movie takes place 100 years after thefirst BLOODRAYNE ended, and finds Rayne in a whole lot of trouble with some vampire cowboys. The cowboys are led byBilly the Kid, so Rayne teams up with none other than Pat Garret in an attempt to stop Billy’s bloody reign of terror.

Bloodrayne 2: Deliverance is out now on DVD (£10.98) andBlu-ray (£14.99).

September 19th :Press releases for new games and DVDs…

New press releases are online now for the following:

• Baraka: Remastered 2-disc DVD and Blu-ray
• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 3 Disc Seriously Ultimate Edition (Limited Edition Steelbook) on DVD
• Star Wars – Prequel Trilogy Boxset on DVD
• Pride 33: The Second Coming on DVD
• UFC 84: Ill Will on DVD
• WWE: One Night Stand 2008 on DVD
• The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect on DVD
• WWE Night Of Champions 2008 on DVD

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 atManchcester 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: Then She Found Me and Tropic Thunder.

September 18th :CHARTS: Kings of Leon vs. Katy Perry – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until early Novemberwith albums also until November 2008.

September 16th :21-year-old makes a soul sensation debut on CD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsdescribes this release as a hot ‘n’ passionate one from a new kid on the blockwhich guarantees him a big future. There are 12 tracks on this album which provethe man has a massive talent.

Bryn Christopher: My Worldis online and out now on CD.

September 15th :What’s the dark secret in The Passage on DVD…?

Released October 13th:

Stephen Dorff is an actor who’s certainly proved his worth in the past butdoesn’t seem to hit the Hollywood A-list very often any more, but this low-budgetthriller really does deliver the goods and is mostly a three-hander, alsostarring Neil Jackson and Sarai Givaty, as curiosity gets the better of themdown in Morocco.

The Passageis online now and released on October 13th on DVD.

Pete Greenwood makes his solo debut on CD…

Although he’s only been going for two years,DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Elly Roberts confirmsthis is a mature and considered album with influences from Bob Dylan andPaul Simon.

Pete Greenwood: Sirensis online and out now on CD.

Prison Break breaks IN as Season 4 continues…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen returns with reviewsof the eagerly awaited fourth season of Prison Break, and for the second episodein a row, there’s a break IN to somewhere in the search for the mysterioussix Scylla cards.

A review ofPrison Break Season 4: Episode 3is online and the series continues on Sky 1 tomorrow night at 10pm.

New DVD comps online…

Please enter the competitions listed below by clicking on the packshoton the right.

• ER Season 12 on DVD

CHARTS: Kings Of Leon vs Katy Perry – who got the No.1…?

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

Also, the new DVD releases for this week will be online tomorrow.

New DVD highlights out this week…

In a slight change from the norm, we look at a few titles in more detail, as there’s not a lot out at the moment.

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

• The Air I Breathe (15.99, ICA)
• ER Season 12 (44.99, Warner)
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall (19.99 DVD, 24.99 Bluray, Universal)
• Pushing Daisies Season 1 (39.99 Blu-ray, Warner)
• South Park Season 8 (24.99, Paramount)

The Air I Breathe:

Starring an award-winning stellar cast including Forest Whitaker, Andy Garcia, Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy, Brendan Fraser andSarah Michelle Gellar, The Air I Breathe is a powerful, thrilling and moving story of four strangers whose lives becomeentwined by unpredictable twists of fate.

Created by director Jieho Lee, The Air I Breathe centres on the ancient Chinese proverb of Happiness, Pleasure, Sorrowand Love, and sees the lives of four previously unconnected individuals weaved together by the ruling of ruthless crimeboss, Fingers (Garcia; Ocean’s Eleven).

The Air I Breathe is out now on DVD (£9.98)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

From the producers of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up comes a comic look at one guy’s arduous quest to grow upand get over the heartbreak of being dumped – if he can only make himself start Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Struggling musician Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) has spent six years idolizing his girlfriend, television star Sarah Marshall(Kristen Bell). He’s the guy left holding her purse in paparazzi photos and accidentally omitted from acceptance awardspeeches. But his world is rocked when she dumps him and Peter finds himself alone. After an unsuccessful bout of womanizingand an on-the-job nervous breakdown, he sees that not having Sarah may just ruin his life.

To clear his head, Peter takes an impulsive trip to Hawaii, where he is confronted by his worst nightmare: his ex and hertragically hip new British-rocker boyfriend, Aldous (Russell Brand), are sharing his hotel. But as he torments himself withthe reality of Sarah’s new life, he finds relief in a flirtation with Rachel (Mila Kunis), a beautiful resort employee whoselaid-back approach tempts him to rejoin the world. He also finds relief in several hundred embarrassing, fruity cocktails.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is out now on DVD (£12.98) andBlu-ray (£17.98).

South Park Season 8:

What began as a construction-paper film short evolved into a veritable pop-culture phenomenon for Trey Parker and MattStone’s outrageous animated comedy series SOUTH PARK. Centred on the hilarious misadventures of four potty-mouthedprimary-schoolers in the perpetually wintry environs of South Park, Colorado, the series skewers the vagaries of the modernAmerican cultural landscape with politically incorrect humour and satirical plotlines ranging from homophobia and terrorismto boy bands and talking poo. This collection presents every episode from the show’s eighth series.

South Park Season 8 is out now on DVD (£15.98).

ER Season 12.

ER follows the medical personnel and patients in the emergency room of Chicago’s fictional County General Hospital.

Episodes Comprise: 1. Canon City,2. Nobody’s Baby, 3. Man With No Name, 4. Blame It On The Rain,5. Wake Up,6. Dream House,7. The Human Shield,8. Two Ships,9. I Do,10. All About Christmas Eve,11. If Not Now,12. Split Decisions,13. Body And Soul,14. Quintessence Of Dust,15. Darfur,16. Out On A Limb,17. Lost In America,18. Strange Bedfellows,19. No Place To Hide,20. There Are No Angels Here,21. The Gallant Hero And The Tragic Victor,22. Guns

ER Season 12 is out now on DVD (£32.98).

September 12th :Press releases for new games and DVDs…

New press releases are online now for the following:

• The Air I Breathe on DVD
• The Go Master on DVD
• Her Name is Sabine on DVD
• Our Daily Bread on DVD
• Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens on DVD
• Aion: The Tower of Eternity on PC DVD-ROM
• Metallica on Guitar Hero 3: Lengends of Rock on Xbox 360, PS3, PS3, Wii and PC DVD-ROM
• F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC DVD-ROM
• Fox annunce Blu-ray Exclusive releases for Autumn 2008
• Band of Brothers on Blu-ray
• Saints Row 2 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC DVD-ROM

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 atManchcester 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: Pineapple Express, The Women and Eden Lake.

September 11th :It’s a Howlin’ good album released on CD…

Retro soundscapes, Hammond organ tracks and ballsy rock blasts are just part ofwhat’s going on for this great second album from Howlin Rain. Read the reviewfromDVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsand check out why you should buy it.

Howlin Rain: Magnificent Fiendis online and out now on CD.

September 10th :CHARTS: Pussycat Dolls vs. Katy Perry – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until early Novemberwith albums also until November 2008.

September 9th :Albert Hammond Jr releases a follow-up CD…

Recorded at the famous Electric Lady Studios in New York, this latest attemptdoesn’t quite hit the heights of his first and,DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts confirms,it has mixed results with tracks that don’t sit comfortably next to each other.

Albert Hammond Jr: Como To Llamais online and out now on CD.

New DVD highlights out this week…

In a slight change from the norm, we look at a few titles in more detail, as there’s not a lot out at the moment.

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

• 21 (19.99 DVD, 24.99 Bluray, Sony)
• The Eye (2008) (19.99 DVD, 24.99 Bluray, Lions Gate)
• Spooks Code 9 (24.99, Contender)
• Tin Man (19.99, Brightspark)

21:

Inspired by a true story, 21 mixes Las Vegas casino wheeling and dealing with college-kid angst. Kevin Spacey iscrafty MIT professor Micky Rosa, who trains gifted students to count cards and then flies them out to Vegas to raid theblackjack tables between classes. At first they rake in a bundle, but then catch the unwanted attention of tough-guysecurity chief, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne) who wants to prove himself before he’s replaced by face recognitionsoftware.

Maths genius Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) originally joins the ring in order to come up with the $300,000 he needs fortuition money, but he’s also smitten with the ring’s resident babe, Jill (Kate Bosworth). When he finds out ProfessorRosa hasn’t been dealing entirely from a straight deck, Ben’s high-end shopping spree dreams turn sour (though cardcounting is not illegal) and the battle of wits is on, no second chances given. Spacey is in his preternaturally calm,morally compromised element, stealing scenes left and right; Fishburne brings the hangdog depth; and director RobertLuketic (LEGALLY BLONDE) succeeds in making the film glossy, stylish and thrilling. 21 is based on the bestsellerBRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE by Ben Mezrich.

21 is out now on DVD (£12.98), Blu-ray (£17.98) andPSP UMD (£9.74)

The Eye [2008].

THE EYE adapts the influential 2002 Hong Kong ghost tale by the Pang brothers into a star vehicle for Jessica Alba. While itremains faithful to the original story, this version ups the number of jolts for thrill-seeking Western audiences.Writing/directing team David Moreau and Xavier Palud, creators of the popular 2006 French thriller THEM, make their U.S.debut with a screenplay by Sebastian Gutierrez (SNAKES ON A PLANE), putting a few new twists on a cult favourite.

Concert violinist Sydney Wells (Alba) has been blind since she was five, when an accident involving firecrackers damaged hercorneas. Now in her mid-20s, she has just undergone a transplant, a risky procedure that is not always successful. When thebandages come off, her sight slowly returns, and everything she sees is a new experience. A happy occasion becomes terrifying,though, when she begins to see horrifying visions of the dead. Fearing that she’s losing her sanity, she enlists the helpof Dr. Paul Faulkner (Alessandro Nivola), who uncovers the identity of the donor of her new corneas and travels with herto Mexico to unravel the mystery of her horrific visions.

Spare and effective, THE EYE retains the two most startlingsequences from the original film–a truly chilling floating dead man in an elevator and an elaborate, explosive set pieceat the conclusion. Moreau, Palud, and Gutierrez jazz the story up in other spots, with quick scares, sharp music cues,and twitchy apparitions reminiscent of those in JACOB’S LADDER, but the essence remains the same. Alba is fine as damselin distress Sydney, and the always-enjoyable Parker Posey is uncharacteristically low-key as her airline hostess sister.With no gore or anything else objectionable, the film may also be good choice for younger viewers who enjoy a good scare.

The Eye (2008) is out now on DVD (£12.98) andBlu-ray (£17.98).

Spooks Code 9:

David Wolstencroft’s counter-terrorist spy drama SPOOKS is launched into the near future in the innovative new six-partdrama SPOOKS: CODE 9. Set in the year 2013 following a devastating nuclear bomb attack on the capital, the show centres onthe bright young recruits of MI5’s new Field Office 19. After the city’s evacuation, teams such as theirs have been set upall over the country to tackle any further threats to the nation’s safety. With limited training and experience but withunflinching determination and a fierce patriotic spirit, the new recruits face danger at every turn.

Charlie (Liam Boyle), Rachel (Ruta Gedmintas), Jez (Heshima Thompson), Vik (Christopher Simpson), Rob (Andrew Knott) andKylie (Georgia Moffett), all come from widely different backgrounds and possess a range of invaluable skills and talents.Hand-picked by their experienced Field Office Leader Hannah (Joanne Froggatt), they must come together and work as ateam for the sake of Queen and country. Frenetically-paced, visually-striking and achingly-hip, SPOOKS: CODE 9 introducesyou to a future devoid of rules and structure, where protecting your country has never been so much fun.

Spooks Code 9 is out now on DVD (£13.98).

Tin Man.

A tent-pole miniseries release from RHI Entertainment and SCI FI Channel Tin Man is a modern science fiction update of L.Frank Baum s timeless “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” When a sorceress named Azkadellia scorches the once-beautiful land of OZinto a desolate wasteland the only hope lies in an “outsider” named DG a young Midwestern woman whose troubling dreams havesummoned her to the doomed paradise. D.G. embarks on a journey to find the great mystic man to save the O.Z. and on her wayshe befriends a scarecrow named Glitch a tin cop named Cain and gentle manimal named Raw. Journey beyond the yellow brick roadwithTin Man now on DVD for the first time in this 2-Disc Collector’s Edition with amazing bonus features and collectiblepackaging.

This sci-fi miniseries offers an alternative take on the classic tale of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ and stars Zooey Deschanel(WEEDS) as DG, Alan Cumming (THE L WORD) as Glitch, and Richard Dreyfuss (JAWS) as the Mystic Man.

Tin Man is out now on DVD (£11.98) andBlu-ray (£16.98).

September 8th :Swing Out Sister return to the charts on CD…

Everyone will remember when this band rose to the Top 5 with the hit Breakoutback in 1986 and the fantastic vocals of Corrine Drewery, but they’ve continuedto make music all this time and now release their ninth studio album, buteven though they haven’t been in the charts for almost 15 years, can theyrecapture past glory days?

Swing Out Sister: Beautiful Messis online now and out today on CD.

Ali Eskandarian has plenty to say that’s worth hearing on CD…

As DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Elly Roberts confirms,this new artist is having comparisons drawn with early Bob Dylan and Nick Drakeand this alt-folk-blues troubadour is seriously one to watch.

Ali Eskandarian: Nothing To Sayis online and out now on CD.

Prison Break returns with Season 4 and so does a familiar face…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Dan Owen returns with reviewsof the eagerly awaited fourth season of Prison Break, but what is planned forMichael and Lincoln as they attempt to take down the company, what became ofthe inmates of Sona and who will make a surprise return to the show?

A review ofPrison Break Season 4: Episodes 1 & 2is online and the series continues on Sky 1 tomorrow night at 10pm.

New DVD comps online…

Please enter the competitions listed below by clicking on the packshoton the right.

• ER Season 12 on DVD

CHARTS: Pussycat Dolls vs Katy Perry – who got the No.1…?

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

Also, the new DVD releases for this week will be online tomorrow.

September 6th :Press releases for new games and DVDs…

A quick weekend addition for a new release that’s out on Monday:

• Spooks Code 9 on DVD

The latest press releasesare online now.

September 5th :Press releases for new games and DVDs…

New press releases are online now for the following:

• Prison Break Season 3 on Bluray
• ER Season 12 on DVD
• Pride 34: Kamikaze on DVD
• James Bond: Blu-ray Collection Vol.1
• Gauntlet on Nintendo DS
• John Carpenter: The Collection on DVD
• The Last House on the Left – 3-Disc Special Edition DVD
• Reeker 2 on DVD
• The Takeshi Kitano Collection on DVD

The latest press releasesare online now.

Matthew’s sweet music makes for a great 10th CD…

From working in Athens, Georgia in the mid-80s, and more recently with SusannaHoffs from the Bangles, his latest album takes a nod to prog-rock, Americanaand will appeals to even the plain curious, according toDVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Elly Roberts.

Matthew Sweet: Sunshine Liesis online and out now on CD.

New films at this cinema this weekend…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of films showing atManchcester 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: Rocknrolla, Disaster Movie, Bangkok Dangerous, Sweet Land, El Cantante and The Duchess.

September 2nd :CHARTS: Eric Prydz vs. Katy Perry – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until early Novemberwith albums also until November 2008.

September 1st :Star Wars goes animated, out now in the cinema…

Positioned between the second and third film of the recent trilogy, the CloneWars are in full effect and both Anakin and Obi-Wan are at the top of theirgame as they do battle with the Evil Empire with a plot that’s paper-thinbut it’s a film that feels like a series of computer game CGI cut-scenesstuck together and put up on the big screen for 90 minutes of crash/bang/wallopand it’s fantastic fun!

Star Wars: The Clone Warsis out now at the cinema.

Steely Dan’s Walter Becker releases a new album…

Steely Dan are an absolute legend of a band, but while we won’t be seeing anotherone of those any time soon, someone else who’s been taking their time – 14 yearssince his last – is the band’s Walter Becker, with a 12-track album that’s hasa few good tracks but… not many.DVDfever.co.uk reviewer, Elly Robertstalks you through it.

Walter Becker: Circus Moneyis online and out now on CD.

CHARTS: Eric Prydz vs Katy Perry – who got the No.1…?

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

New DVD highlights out this week…

In a slight change from the norm, we look at a few titles in more detail, as there’s not a lot out at the moment.

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

• Cashback (15.99 Universal)
• Day of the Dead (2008) (15.99, Optimum)
• Doomsday (19.99 DVD, 24.99 Blu-ray, Universal)
• New Tricks Series 4 (24.99, BBC)
• QI: Series C (19.99, BBC)
• The Red Hand Gang Series 1 (24.99, Fabulous Films)
• Star Fleet Series 1 (29.99, Fabulous Films)
• Yes: Director’s Cut (19.99, Pinnacle)

Cashback:

Cashback is an expanded version of director Sean Ellis’ Oscar-nominated short film of the same name about a bored supermarketclerk who discovers that he has the ability to stop time. Sean Biggerstaff (from the Harry Potter franchise) is Ben, a lovelornyoung man whose chronic insomnia (due to a bad breakup) forces him to bury himself in pointless and repetitive work at a localgrocery store.

Once there, boredom causes him to believe that he can stop time, and he enjoys long and languid fantasies about undressing andsketching the female shoppers. But reality intrudes in the form of recollections of his troubled past, as well as the lovelypresence of fellow clerk Sharon (Emilia Fox), who offers the promise of love in the real world. A gentle and artfully directedindependent film, Cashback doesn’t run very deep in terms of emotion, but the special effects are clever, the cast quirky andamusing, and its premise is an appealing mix of softcore reverie and boyish longing.

Cashback is out now on DVD (£9.98).

Day Of The Dead [2008].

Nick Cannon, Mena Suvari and Ving Rhames star in this horror film based on the George A. Romero classic zombie film.A mysterious virus has infected the small town of Leadville, Colorado, and the military is brought in to enforce a quarantineand stop the spread of the disease. As people perish, survivors realize that the virus is creating the walking dead whocrave human flesh. Only a small number of people are immune to the virus, and those few survivors must battle to fendoff the infected zombies while trying to make it out of town alive.

Day of the Dead (2008) is out now on DVD (£9.98) andBlu-ray (£17.98).

Doomsday.

Writer/director Neil Marshall earned the respect of horror devotees with his first two features, Dog Soldiers and The Descent,refreshing and scary twists on the werewolf and expedition-gone-wrong genres. Where those works exemplified a respect for purehorror, devoid of the tension-spoiling comedy that infects most fright films, Doomsday is Marshall’s love letter to thepost-apocalyptic action-exploitation films of the 1980s.

Bubbling over with action, gore, and dark humour, his third film has all the bases covered for a fun and knowing viewingexperience. After a deadly plague results in the quarantine of Scotland (in a scene reminiscent of I Am Legend), a wall isbuilt around the country preventing anyone from going in or out.

Thirty years later, the British government believes everyone within the wall to be dead, but when they find signs of life andlearn of the possibility of a cure, a team of specially trained agents led by Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mitra) become the firstoutsiders to venture inside the country since the epidemic. They discover that there are plenty of survivors who havesplintered into fierce, warlike tribes, living in a lawless society where cannibalism and murder are the order of the day.

Astute viewers will have a blast playing ‘spot the influence’, with loving nods to Escape From New York, Aliens, 28 DaysLater, and the Mad Max films. At the film’s halfway point, Marshall switches gears, transforming the film from a punk-informedfuturistic action film into a medieval-style chase film, utilising Scotland’s castles and sumptuous green landscapes to thefullest. Mitra is an exciting physical presence as Eden, a female version of Escape From New York’s Snake Plissken, and thegreat supporting cast includes Bob Hoskins and Malcolm McDowell.

Doomsday is out now on DVD (£10.98) andBlu-ray (£17.98).

Yes: Director’s Cut.

Two full length concert performances featuring the ‘Classic’ line-up, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White,Rick Wakeman recorded at The NIA Birmingham and Glastobury Festival. These were recorded during the legendary prog rockers’ 35thAnniversary World Tour in 2003 and there’s also exclusive behind the scenes footage.

Yes: Director’s Cut is out now on DVD (£12.98).

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