When I bought my pc a little over a year ago, I was pleased to note that it came with a dvd-drive as by that time my video had started to play up and become unreliable. Still, it took me a while to get going, relying on dvd hand-me-downs from friends who were no longer interested in the titles, the odd present now and again, and the occasional bargain basement offer. Small wonder then that 12 months later, I only have a small collection of dvds on my shelves -- yet still big enough to start indexing!
What follows is therefore for my own reference mostly, but you're welcome to take a peek and sate your curiosity. ;-)
Films:
21 Grams (USA, 2003)
Drama/Thriller
The lives of three people are drawn together when a loving housewife is forced to suffer the loss of her husband and their two daughters, killed in a hit-and-run by a born-again ex-con. A college professor dying of heart failure becomes the recipient of the husband's transplanted heart and is drawn to the widow out of the debt of life owed to her husband. Their connection affects irreparable change in the lives of all three, and through their experiences they will find hope, despair, and redemption.
Naomi Watts, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
28 Days Later (UK, 2002)
Sci-Fi/Thriller
Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.
Christopher Eccleston, Cillian Murphy
Director: Danny Boyle
A
The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (AUS, 1994)
Comedy/Drama/Music
Two drag queens and a transsexual get a cabaret gig in the middle of the desert.
Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp
Director: Stephan Elliot
A Knight's Tale (USA, 2001)
Action/Adventure/Comedy
A peasant squire takes up the identity of his master when the knight suffers an untimely demise.
Heath Ledger, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell
Director: Brian Helgeland
Amadeus (USA, 1984) - special edition
Biography/Drama/Music
Based on Peter Shaffer's play: the incredible story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, told in flashback mode by Antonio Salieri - now confined to an insane asylum.
Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham, Elizabeth Berridge
Director: Milos Forman
American Beauty (USA, 1999)
Drama
A man tells his tale of how he turned his miserable life around and turned everyone else's upside down as a result.
Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening
Director: Sam Mendes
A Price Above Rubies (USA, 1998)
Drama
A young Jewish Orthodox (Hasidic) woman seeks personal fulfilment.
Renée Zellweger, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Boaz Yakin
August (UK, 1996)
Drama
Chekovs Uncle Vanya, transposed to turn-of-the-century South Wales, where the peace and tranquillity of a country house is disturbed by the arrival of the estate's tyrannical owner and his American wife.
Anthony Hopkins, Rhys Ifans
Director: Anthony Hopkins
The Aviator (USA, 2004)
Biography/Drama
A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career, from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett
Director: Martin Scorsese
B
Balzac: A Life For Passion (Fr/It/Ger, 1999)
Biography/Drama
The life of the 19th century French writer Honoré de Balzac.
Gérard Depardieu, Jeanne Moreau
Director: Josée Dayan
The Barber Of Siberia (Russia/Fr/It/Crzech Rep, 1998)
Drama/Romance
A foreign entrepreneur ventures to Russia in 1885 with dreams of selling a new, experimental steam-driven timber harvester in the wilds of Siberia.
Julia Ormond, Richard Harris
Director: Nikita Mikhalkov
Brassed Off (UK, 1996)
Comedy/Drama/Romance
The coal mine in a northern English village may be closing, which would also mean the end of the miners' brass band.
Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Stephen Tompkinson
Director: Mark Herman
C
Caligula (USA/It, 1979)
Drama/History/Adult
The rise and fall of the notorious Roman Emperor Caligula, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign.
Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren
Director: Tinto Brass
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (USA, 1958)
Drama
Based on the play by Tennessee Williams: a party is planned for the 65th birthday of family patriarch 'Big Daddy', but not everyone is in a festive mood. Big Daddy's son Brick, a one-time star athlete, has a drinking problem and has become cold towards his wife Maggie, though she still desperately loves him. Brick's older brother Gooper and his wife hope to gain control over Big Daddy's estate. Big Daddy himself is just coming home from a clinic where he has been tested for cancer. When his doctor tells the family the results of the tests, the family's accumulated lies, frustrations, and secrets quickly begin to come out.
Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives
Director: Richard Brooks
Chicago (USA, 2002)
Musical
Murderesses Velma Kelly (a chanteuse and tease who killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together) and Roxie Hart (who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn't going to make her a star) find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere
Director: Rob Marshall
Chocolat (UK/USA, 2000)
Comedy/Drama/Romance
A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community.
Johnny Depp, Carrie-Ann Moss, Alfred Molina
Director: Lasse Hallström
The Commitments (Eire/UK, 1991)
Comedy/Drama/Music
The travails of Jimmy Rabbitte to form the "World's Hardest Working Band," The Commitments, and bring soul music to the people of Dublin, Ireland.
Robert Arkins, Andrew Strong
Director: Alan Parker
The Constant Gardener (USA, 2005)
Drama/Thriller
A widower is determined to get to the bottom of a potentially explosive secret involving his wife's murder, big business, and corporate corruption.
Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Corpse Bride (USA, 2005)
Animation
When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson (voices)
Director: Tim Burton
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Hong Kong, 2000)
Action/Martial Arts/Drama
Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.
Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi
Director: Ang Lee
D
Dances With Wolves (USA, 1990)
Drama/Western
Lt. John Dunbar is dubbed a hero after he accidentally leads Union troops to a victory during the Civil War. He requests a position on the western frontier, but finds it deserted. He soon finds out he is not alone, but meets a wolf he dubs "Two Socks" and a local Indian tribe. Dunbar quickly makes friends with the tribe, and discovers a white woman who was raised by the Indians. He gradually earns the respect of these native people, and sheds his white-man's ways.
Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
Director: Kevin Costner
Don Juan de Marco (USA, 1995)
Drama/Romance/Comedy
A psychiatrist must cure a young patient who presents himself as Don Juan, the greatest lover in the world.
Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, Faye Dunaway
Director: Jeremy Leven
E
Enemy At The Gates (USA/Ger/UK/Ireland, 2001)
Action/War/Drama/Romance/Thriller
Two Russian and German snipers play a game of cat-and-mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad.
Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
F
Finding Neverland (UK/USA, 2004)
Drama/Biography
The story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.
Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet
Director: Marc Forster
From Hell (USA/UK/Czech Rep, 2001)
Crime/Mystery
In Victorian era London, a troubled clairvoyant police detective investigates the murders by Jack the Ripper.
Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Robbie Coltrane
Director: Albert Hughes
G
Gladiator (USA, 2000) - extended special edition
Action/Adventure/Drama
When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by a corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.
Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
Director: Ridley Scott
Girl With A Pearl Earring (USA,/UK/Luxemurg, 2003)
Drama/Biography
A young maid working in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous works.
Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth
Director: Peter Webber
H
Hero (Hong Kong/China, 2004)
Action/Adventure/Drama
A series of Rashomon-like flashback accounts shape the story of how one man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China.
Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi
Director: Zhang Yimou
The House Of Flying Daggers (Hong Kong/China, 2004)
Action/Adventure/Drama/Romance
A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful member of a rebel army out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.
Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau
Director: Zhang Yimou
I
Les Invasion Barbares (Can, 2003)
Comedy/Drama
Having a difficult time accepting the reality of death and feeling regretful of his past, a man dying of cancer tries to find peace in his last moments. His estranged son, ex-wife, ex-lovers and old friends will all come to him to share his last breath.
Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rouseeau, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal
Director: Denys Arcand
The Invisible Circus (USA, 2001)
Drama/Romance
A teenage girl travels to Paris in the 1970s trying to find out about her sister's suicide, and falls in love with her dead sister's boyfriend.
Cameron Diaz, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Adam Brooks
J
Jabberwocky (UK, 1977)
Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy
After the death of his father the young cooper 'Dennis Cooper' goes to town where he has to pass several adventures. The town and the whole kingdom is threatened by a terrible monster called 'Jabberwocky'. Will Dennis make his fortune? Is anyone brave enough to defeat the monster? A medieval tale with Pythonesque humour.
Michael Palin, Harry Corbett, John Le Mesurier
Director: Terry Gilliam
Jesus Christ Superstar (USA, 1973)
Musical/Drama/History
Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life, told in an anachronistic manner.
Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman
Director: Norman Jewison
Jesus Christ Superstar (UK, 2000)
aka Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar
Musical/Drama/Stage Recording
A rock musical version of the Passion Play seen from the point of view of Judas.
Glenn Carter, Rik Mayall
K
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (USA, 2003)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (USA, 2004)
Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller
The Bride wakes up after a long coma. The baby that she carried before entering the coma is gone. The only thing on her mind is to have revenge on the assassination team that betrayed her - a team she was once part of.
Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Darryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen
Director: Quentin Tarantino
King Arthur (USA/Ireland, 2004) - director's cut
Action/Adventure/Drama
A demystified take on the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Keira Knightley
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Kingdom Of Heaven (USA, 2005)
Action/Drama
A blacksmith named Balian has lost his family and nearly his faith. The religious wars raging in the far-off Holy Land seem remote to him, yet he is pulled into that immense drama. Amid the pageantry and intrigues of medieval Jerusalem he grows into a leader, and ultimately uses all his courage and skill to defend the city against staggering odds.
Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, Ghassan Massoud
Director: Ridley Scott
L
Labyrinth (USA, 1986)
Fantasy/Family/Adventure
16-year-old Sarah accidentally wishes her baby stepbrother Toby to the evil Goblin King Jareth who will transform Toby into a goblin if Sarah does not complete his Labyrinth in 13 hours.
David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly
Director: Jim Henson
Life Of Brian (UK, 1979)
Comedy
Brian is born on the original Christmas, in the stable next door. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam
Director: Terry Jones
Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (UK, 1998)
Comedy/Crime/Thriller
Four London working class stiffs pool their money to put one in a high stakes card game, but things go wrong and they end up owing half a million pounds and having one week to come up with the cash.
Vinnie Jones, Dexter Fletcher
Director: Guy Ritchie
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (USA, 2001)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (USA, 2002)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (USA, 2003)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings-trilogy; a fairly accurate retelling.
Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellan, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean
Director: Peter Jackson
Lord Of War (USA, 2005)
Drama/Crime
An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an Interpol agent.
Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto
Director: Andrew Niccol
M
March Of The Penguins (Fr, 2005)
aka The Emperor's Journey
Documentary
The annual trek of the Emperor penguins through Antarctica to their breeding grounds.
Director: Luc Jacquet
The Matrix (USA, 1999)
Action/Thriller/Sci-Fi
A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against the controllers of it.
Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishbourne, Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Ann Moss
Director: Andy & Larry Wachowski
The Matrix Revisited (USA, 2001)
An "extras-only" DVD, packed with documentaries and behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the ground-breaking 1999 movie "The Matrix"...
Director: Josh Oreck
The Million Dollar Hotel (USA, 2000)
Thriller/Drama/Mystery/Romance/Comedy
Tragi-comic, romantic whodunnit set in a run down hotel which plays host to mentally ill people too poor to afford medical insurance.
Mel Gibson, Milla Jovovich, Jimmy Smits, Julian Sands
Director: Wim Wenders
Monty Python & The Holy Grail (UK, 1975)
Adventure/Comedy
King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles.
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam
Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Moulin Rouge! (Aus/USA 2001)
Drama/Musical/Romance
A poet falls for a beautiful courtesan whom a jealous duke covets in this stylish musical, with music drawn from familiar 20th century sources.
Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent
Director: Baz Luhrmann
The Mummy (USA, 1999)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller
In 1923, a group of archeologists stumble upon a tomb at Hamunaptra. Inside this tomb the group finds the body of Imhotep, Pharoah Seti's priest and one-time lover of Seti's mistress. However, when the group accidentally brings Imhotep back to life, the results are fatal.
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz
Director: Stephen Sommers
The Mummy Returns (USA, 2001)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller
The story is set in 1933, 10 years after the events of the first film. Rick O'Connell is now married to Evelyn and the couple has settled in London, where they are raising their 8-year-old son Alex. When a chain of events finds the corpse of Imhotep resurrected in the British Museum, the mummy Imhotep walks the earth once more, determined to fulfill his quest for immortality. But another force has also been set loose in the world... one born of the darkest rituals of ancient Egyptian mysticism, and even more powerful than Imhotep. When these two forces clash, the fate of the world will hang in the balance, sending the O'Connells on a desperate race to save the world from unspeakable evil, and rescue their son before it is too late...
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz
Director: Stephen Sommers
N
O
P
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (USA, 2003)
Action/Adventure/Comedy
Pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow sets out to save a governor's daughter from fellow pirates, with the hopes that it will give him the opportunity to regain the ship that was stolen from him.
Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom
Director: Gore Verbinski
Pulp Fiction (USA, 1994)
Crime/Drama
The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Q
R
Reservoir Dogs (USA, 1992)
Crime/Drama/Thriller
A gang of thieves carry out an armed robbery on a diamond warehouse. The police are after them so quickly that they suspect they have a rat in their company. A story told in flashbacks.
Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Revenger's Tragedy (UK, 2002)
Drama
A Jacobean play in a modern, sort of post-apocalyptic setting. A story of revenge.
Christopher Eccleston, Eddie Izzard, Sir Derek Jacobi
Director: Alex Cox
The Road Home (China, 1999)
Drama
Prompted by the death of his father and the grief of his mother, a man recalls the story of how they met in flashback.
Zhang Ziyi
Director: Zhang Yimou
The Rose (USA, 1979)
Drama/Music
The story of the tragic life of a self-destructive female rock star, modeled after Janis Joplin.
Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton
Director: Mark Rydell
S
The Scorpion King (USA, 2002)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Thriller
A desert warrior rises up against the evil army that is destroying his homeland. He captures the enemy's key sorcerer, takes her deep into the desert and prepares for a final showdown.
The Rock
Director: Chuck Russell
Seven Swords (S. Korea/Hong Kong/China, 2005)
Action/Drama
Seven warriors come together to protect a village from a diabolical general.
Donnie Yen
Director: Hark Tsui
Shallow Grave (UK, 1994)
Drama/Thriller
Three friends discover their new flatmate dead but loaded with cash. Their friendship disintegrates as they attempt to enrich themselves.
Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Danny Boyle
Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow (USA, 2004)
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
After New York City receives a series of attacks from giant flying robots, a reporter teams up with a pilot in search of their origin, as well as the reason for the disappearances of famous scientists around the world.
Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law
Director: Kerry Conran
Swept Away (UK, 2002)
Romance
A snooty socialite is stranded on a Mediterranean island with a communist sailor. Worst film ever!!!
Madonna
Director: Guy Ritchie
Swordsman (Hong Kong, 1990)
History/Martial Arts/Drama/Action
When a scroll containing valuable martial arts secrets is stolen from the Emperor, an army detachment is sent to recover it
Jacky Cheung
Diector: Siu Tung-Ching
Swordsman 2 (Hong Kong, 1991)
History/Martial Arts/Drama/Action
Ling, a student from the Blue Mountain school of martial arts, who, along with fellow students and Kiddo, find themselves embroiled in a country-wide political/clan war with the Highlander clan in the forefront of the battle. The plot takes a twist as Jet finds himself attracted to the leader of the Highlander clan, known as Invincible Asia, who possesses supernatural power bestowed by The Sacred Scroll. The climactic final battle pits Jet along with Kiddo, Master Wu, and his allies against Invincible Asia and her forces.
Jet Li
Director: Siu Tung-Ching
Swordsman 3 (Hong Kong, 1992)
History/Martial Arts/Drama/Action
A royal official accompanies a Portuguese warship to the Black Cliffs to see the site of the defeat of the evil Invincible Asia, who attained supernatural abilities by following the sacred scroll and castrating himself. The official discovers that the Portuguese are actually after the sacred scroll, and then finds Invincible Asia him/herself, who is not actually dead. Invincible Asia seeks to destroy all the imposters or 'false Invincible Asias' who have assumed his/her place leading cults, whilst the Portuguese, a mysterious Japanese warlord and others search for Invincible Asia and the Sacred Scroll.
Brigitte Lin
Director: Siu Tung-Ching
Sylvia (UK, 2003)
Biography/Drama/Romance
Story of the relationship between the poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Daniel Craig
Director: Christine Jeffs
T
This Is Spinal Tap (USA, 1984)
Comedy
Spinal Tap, the world's loudest band, is chronicled by hack documentarian Marti DeBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.
Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
Director: Rob Reiner
Trainspotting (UK, 1996)
Drama
Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.
Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle
Director: Danny Boyle
U
Der Untergang (Germany, 2004)
History/Drama/War
Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
V
Vatel (F/UK, 2000)
Drama/Romance
In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king's newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who's authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?
Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Julian Glover, Julian Sands
Director: Roland Joffé
W
Walk The Line (USA, 2005)
Biography/Drama/Music
The love of a woman, given reluctantly, saves a man from addiction and self-destruction. Traces the life of Johnny Cash from his boyhood, with loss of a brother and of his father's affection, to 1968 when his outlaw side and his unhappiness give way to the twin triumphs of his concert at Folsom Prison and June Carter's acceptance of his marriage proposal. Along the way there's his first composition, first recording, first marriage, daughters, being smitten with June, divorce, pills and booze, an empty life, and the Carter family's nursing him back to health. June eases Johnny out of a ring of fire.
Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoone
Director: James Mangold
The Whole Wide World (USA, 1996)
Biography/Drama/Romance
In Texas in the 1930s, young schoolteacher Novalyne Price meets a handsome, eccentric, interesting young man named Robert Howard. He's a successful writer - of the pulp stories of Conan the Barbarian; she's an aspiring one. A friendship develops into a sort of courtship. Based on a memoir by Novalyne Price.
Renée Zellweger, Vincent D'Onofrio
Director: Dan Ireland
X
Y
Z
Zatoichi (Japan, 2003)
Action/Drama/Crime/Martial Arts
Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. He's destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents' murder... Duels, wit and a touch of zen!
Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Ookusu
Director: Takeshi Kitano
TV Series:
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (S1)
Cold Feet. The Complete Collection
The Corn Mo Show
Hornblower
I, Claudius
New Doctor Who 2005
Robin of Sherwood
Music:
Feeder: Pushing The Senses
Kane Live 05
Live Aid
Paul Weller Modern Classics on Film 90-01
The Verve: This Is Music: The Singles 92-98
What follows is therefore for my own reference mostly, but you're welcome to take a peek and sate your curiosity. ;-)
Films:
21 Grams (USA, 2003)
Drama/Thriller
The lives of three people are drawn together when a loving housewife is forced to suffer the loss of her husband and their two daughters, killed in a hit-and-run by a born-again ex-con. A college professor dying of heart failure becomes the recipient of the husband's transplanted heart and is drawn to the widow out of the debt of life owed to her husband. Their connection affects irreparable change in the lives of all three, and through their experiences they will find hope, despair, and redemption.
Naomi Watts, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
28 Days Later (UK, 2002)
Sci-Fi/Thriller
Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.
Christopher Eccleston, Cillian Murphy
Director: Danny Boyle
A
The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (AUS, 1994)
Comedy/Drama/Music
Two drag queens and a transsexual get a cabaret gig in the middle of the desert.
Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp
Director: Stephan Elliot
A Knight's Tale (USA, 2001)
Action/Adventure/Comedy
A peasant squire takes up the identity of his master when the knight suffers an untimely demise.
Heath Ledger, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell
Director: Brian Helgeland
Amadeus (USA, 1984) - special edition
Biography/Drama/Music
Based on Peter Shaffer's play: the incredible story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, told in flashback mode by Antonio Salieri - now confined to an insane asylum.
Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham, Elizabeth Berridge
Director: Milos Forman
American Beauty (USA, 1999)
Drama
A man tells his tale of how he turned his miserable life around and turned everyone else's upside down as a result.
Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening
Director: Sam Mendes
A Price Above Rubies (USA, 1998)
Drama
A young Jewish Orthodox (Hasidic) woman seeks personal fulfilment.
Renée Zellweger, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Boaz Yakin
August (UK, 1996)
Drama
Chekovs Uncle Vanya, transposed to turn-of-the-century South Wales, where the peace and tranquillity of a country house is disturbed by the arrival of the estate's tyrannical owner and his American wife.
Anthony Hopkins, Rhys Ifans
Director: Anthony Hopkins
The Aviator (USA, 2004)
Biography/Drama
A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career, from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett
Director: Martin Scorsese
B
Balzac: A Life For Passion (Fr/It/Ger, 1999)
Biography/Drama
The life of the 19th century French writer Honoré de Balzac.
Gérard Depardieu, Jeanne Moreau
Director: Josée Dayan
The Barber Of Siberia (Russia/Fr/It/Crzech Rep, 1998)
Drama/Romance
A foreign entrepreneur ventures to Russia in 1885 with dreams of selling a new, experimental steam-driven timber harvester in the wilds of Siberia.
Julia Ormond, Richard Harris
Director: Nikita Mikhalkov
Brassed Off (UK, 1996)
Comedy/Drama/Romance
The coal mine in a northern English village may be closing, which would also mean the end of the miners' brass band.
Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Stephen Tompkinson
Director: Mark Herman
C
Caligula (USA/It, 1979)
Drama/History/Adult
The rise and fall of the notorious Roman Emperor Caligula, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign.
Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren
Director: Tinto Brass
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (USA, 1958)
Drama
Based on the play by Tennessee Williams: a party is planned for the 65th birthday of family patriarch 'Big Daddy', but not everyone is in a festive mood. Big Daddy's son Brick, a one-time star athlete, has a drinking problem and has become cold towards his wife Maggie, though she still desperately loves him. Brick's older brother Gooper and his wife hope to gain control over Big Daddy's estate. Big Daddy himself is just coming home from a clinic where he has been tested for cancer. When his doctor tells the family the results of the tests, the family's accumulated lies, frustrations, and secrets quickly begin to come out.
Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives
Director: Richard Brooks
Chicago (USA, 2002)
Musical
Murderesses Velma Kelly (a chanteuse and tease who killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together) and Roxie Hart (who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn't going to make her a star) find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere
Director: Rob Marshall
Chocolat (UK/USA, 2000)
Comedy/Drama/Romance
A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community.
Johnny Depp, Carrie-Ann Moss, Alfred Molina
Director: Lasse Hallström
The Commitments (Eire/UK, 1991)
Comedy/Drama/Music
The travails of Jimmy Rabbitte to form the "World's Hardest Working Band," The Commitments, and bring soul music to the people of Dublin, Ireland.
Robert Arkins, Andrew Strong
Director: Alan Parker
The Constant Gardener (USA, 2005)
Drama/Thriller
A widower is determined to get to the bottom of a potentially explosive secret involving his wife's murder, big business, and corporate corruption.
Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Corpse Bride (USA, 2005)
Animation
When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson (voices)
Director: Tim Burton
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Hong Kong, 2000)
Action/Martial Arts/Drama
Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.
Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi
Director: Ang Lee
D
Dances With Wolves (USA, 1990)
Drama/Western
Lt. John Dunbar is dubbed a hero after he accidentally leads Union troops to a victory during the Civil War. He requests a position on the western frontier, but finds it deserted. He soon finds out he is not alone, but meets a wolf he dubs "Two Socks" and a local Indian tribe. Dunbar quickly makes friends with the tribe, and discovers a white woman who was raised by the Indians. He gradually earns the respect of these native people, and sheds his white-man's ways.
Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
Director: Kevin Costner
Don Juan de Marco (USA, 1995)
Drama/Romance/Comedy
A psychiatrist must cure a young patient who presents himself as Don Juan, the greatest lover in the world.
Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, Faye Dunaway
Director: Jeremy Leven
E
Enemy At The Gates (USA/Ger/UK/Ireland, 2001)
Action/War/Drama/Romance/Thriller
Two Russian and German snipers play a game of cat-and-mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad.
Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
F
Finding Neverland (UK/USA, 2004)
Drama/Biography
The story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.
Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet
Director: Marc Forster
From Hell (USA/UK/Czech Rep, 2001)
Crime/Mystery
In Victorian era London, a troubled clairvoyant police detective investigates the murders by Jack the Ripper.
Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Robbie Coltrane
Director: Albert Hughes
G
Gladiator (USA, 2000) - extended special edition
Action/Adventure/Drama
When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by a corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.
Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
Director: Ridley Scott
Girl With A Pearl Earring (USA,/UK/Luxemurg, 2003)
Drama/Biography
A young maid working in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous works.
Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth
Director: Peter Webber
H
Hero (Hong Kong/China, 2004)
Action/Adventure/Drama
A series of Rashomon-like flashback accounts shape the story of how one man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China.
Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi
Director: Zhang Yimou
The House Of Flying Daggers (Hong Kong/China, 2004)
Action/Adventure/Drama/Romance
A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful member of a rebel army out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.
Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau
Director: Zhang Yimou
I
Les Invasion Barbares (Can, 2003)
Comedy/Drama
Having a difficult time accepting the reality of death and feeling regretful of his past, a man dying of cancer tries to find peace in his last moments. His estranged son, ex-wife, ex-lovers and old friends will all come to him to share his last breath.
Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rouseeau, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal
Director: Denys Arcand
The Invisible Circus (USA, 2001)
Drama/Romance
A teenage girl travels to Paris in the 1970s trying to find out about her sister's suicide, and falls in love with her dead sister's boyfriend.
Cameron Diaz, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Adam Brooks
J
Jabberwocky (UK, 1977)
Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy
After the death of his father the young cooper 'Dennis Cooper' goes to town where he has to pass several adventures. The town and the whole kingdom is threatened by a terrible monster called 'Jabberwocky'. Will Dennis make his fortune? Is anyone brave enough to defeat the monster? A medieval tale with Pythonesque humour.
Michael Palin, Harry Corbett, John Le Mesurier
Director: Terry Gilliam
Jesus Christ Superstar (USA, 1973)
Musical/Drama/History
Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life, told in an anachronistic manner.
Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman
Director: Norman Jewison
Jesus Christ Superstar (UK, 2000)
aka Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar
Musical/Drama/Stage Recording
A rock musical version of the Passion Play seen from the point of view of Judas.
Glenn Carter, Rik Mayall
K
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (USA, 2003)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (USA, 2004)
Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller
The Bride wakes up after a long coma. The baby that she carried before entering the coma is gone. The only thing on her mind is to have revenge on the assassination team that betrayed her - a team she was once part of.
Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Darryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen
Director: Quentin Tarantino
King Arthur (USA/Ireland, 2004) - director's cut
Action/Adventure/Drama
A demystified take on the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Keira Knightley
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Kingdom Of Heaven (USA, 2005)
Action/Drama
A blacksmith named Balian has lost his family and nearly his faith. The religious wars raging in the far-off Holy Land seem remote to him, yet he is pulled into that immense drama. Amid the pageantry and intrigues of medieval Jerusalem he grows into a leader, and ultimately uses all his courage and skill to defend the city against staggering odds.
Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, David Thewlis, Ghassan Massoud
Director: Ridley Scott
L
Labyrinth (USA, 1986)
Fantasy/Family/Adventure
16-year-old Sarah accidentally wishes her baby stepbrother Toby to the evil Goblin King Jareth who will transform Toby into a goblin if Sarah does not complete his Labyrinth in 13 hours.
David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly
Director: Jim Henson
Life Of Brian (UK, 1979)
Comedy
Brian is born on the original Christmas, in the stable next door. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam
Director: Terry Jones
Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (UK, 1998)
Comedy/Crime/Thriller
Four London working class stiffs pool their money to put one in a high stakes card game, but things go wrong and they end up owing half a million pounds and having one week to come up with the cash.
Vinnie Jones, Dexter Fletcher
Director: Guy Ritchie
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (USA, 2001)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (USA, 2002)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (USA, 2003)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings-trilogy; a fairly accurate retelling.
Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellan, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean
Director: Peter Jackson
Lord Of War (USA, 2005)
Drama/Crime
An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an Interpol agent.
Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto
Director: Andrew Niccol
M
March Of The Penguins (Fr, 2005)
aka The Emperor's Journey
Documentary
The annual trek of the Emperor penguins through Antarctica to their breeding grounds.
Director: Luc Jacquet
The Matrix (USA, 1999)
Action/Thriller/Sci-Fi
A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against the controllers of it.
Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishbourne, Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Ann Moss
Director: Andy & Larry Wachowski
The Matrix Revisited (USA, 2001)
An "extras-only" DVD, packed with documentaries and behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the ground-breaking 1999 movie "The Matrix"...
Director: Josh Oreck
The Million Dollar Hotel (USA, 2000)
Thriller/Drama/Mystery/Romance/Comedy
Tragi-comic, romantic whodunnit set in a run down hotel which plays host to mentally ill people too poor to afford medical insurance.
Mel Gibson, Milla Jovovich, Jimmy Smits, Julian Sands
Director: Wim Wenders
Monty Python & The Holy Grail (UK, 1975)
Adventure/Comedy
King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles.
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam
Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Moulin Rouge! (Aus/USA 2001)
Drama/Musical/Romance
A poet falls for a beautiful courtesan whom a jealous duke covets in this stylish musical, with music drawn from familiar 20th century sources.
Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent
Director: Baz Luhrmann
The Mummy (USA, 1999)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller
In 1923, a group of archeologists stumble upon a tomb at Hamunaptra. Inside this tomb the group finds the body of Imhotep, Pharoah Seti's priest and one-time lover of Seti's mistress. However, when the group accidentally brings Imhotep back to life, the results are fatal.
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz
Director: Stephen Sommers
The Mummy Returns (USA, 2001)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller
The story is set in 1933, 10 years after the events of the first film. Rick O'Connell is now married to Evelyn and the couple has settled in London, where they are raising their 8-year-old son Alex. When a chain of events finds the corpse of Imhotep resurrected in the British Museum, the mummy Imhotep walks the earth once more, determined to fulfill his quest for immortality. But another force has also been set loose in the world... one born of the darkest rituals of ancient Egyptian mysticism, and even more powerful than Imhotep. When these two forces clash, the fate of the world will hang in the balance, sending the O'Connells on a desperate race to save the world from unspeakable evil, and rescue their son before it is too late...
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz
Director: Stephen Sommers
N
O
P
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (USA, 2003)
Action/Adventure/Comedy
Pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow sets out to save a governor's daughter from fellow pirates, with the hopes that it will give him the opportunity to regain the ship that was stolen from him.
Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom
Director: Gore Verbinski
Pulp Fiction (USA, 1994)
Crime/Drama
The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Q
R
Reservoir Dogs (USA, 1992)
Crime/Drama/Thriller
A gang of thieves carry out an armed robbery on a diamond warehouse. The police are after them so quickly that they suspect they have a rat in their company. A story told in flashbacks.
Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Revenger's Tragedy (UK, 2002)
Drama
A Jacobean play in a modern, sort of post-apocalyptic setting. A story of revenge.
Christopher Eccleston, Eddie Izzard, Sir Derek Jacobi
Director: Alex Cox
The Road Home (China, 1999)
Drama
Prompted by the death of his father and the grief of his mother, a man recalls the story of how they met in flashback.
Zhang Ziyi
Director: Zhang Yimou
The Rose (USA, 1979)
Drama/Music
The story of the tragic life of a self-destructive female rock star, modeled after Janis Joplin.
Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton
Director: Mark Rydell
S
The Scorpion King (USA, 2002)
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Thriller
A desert warrior rises up against the evil army that is destroying his homeland. He captures the enemy's key sorcerer, takes her deep into the desert and prepares for a final showdown.
The Rock
Director: Chuck Russell
Seven Swords (S. Korea/Hong Kong/China, 2005)
Action/Drama
Seven warriors come together to protect a village from a diabolical general.
Donnie Yen
Director: Hark Tsui
Shallow Grave (UK, 1994)
Drama/Thriller
Three friends discover their new flatmate dead but loaded with cash. Their friendship disintegrates as they attempt to enrich themselves.
Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Danny Boyle
Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow (USA, 2004)
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
After New York City receives a series of attacks from giant flying robots, a reporter teams up with a pilot in search of their origin, as well as the reason for the disappearances of famous scientists around the world.
Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law
Director: Kerry Conran
Swept Away (UK, 2002)
Romance
A snooty socialite is stranded on a Mediterranean island with a communist sailor. Worst film ever!!!
Madonna
Director: Guy Ritchie
Swordsman (Hong Kong, 1990)
History/Martial Arts/Drama/Action
When a scroll containing valuable martial arts secrets is stolen from the Emperor, an army detachment is sent to recover it
Jacky Cheung
Diector: Siu Tung-Ching
Swordsman 2 (Hong Kong, 1991)
History/Martial Arts/Drama/Action
Ling, a student from the Blue Mountain school of martial arts, who, along with fellow students and Kiddo, find themselves embroiled in a country-wide political/clan war with the Highlander clan in the forefront of the battle. The plot takes a twist as Jet finds himself attracted to the leader of the Highlander clan, known as Invincible Asia, who possesses supernatural power bestowed by The Sacred Scroll. The climactic final battle pits Jet along with Kiddo, Master Wu, and his allies against Invincible Asia and her forces.
Jet Li
Director: Siu Tung-Ching
Swordsman 3 (Hong Kong, 1992)
History/Martial Arts/Drama/Action
A royal official accompanies a Portuguese warship to the Black Cliffs to see the site of the defeat of the evil Invincible Asia, who attained supernatural abilities by following the sacred scroll and castrating himself. The official discovers that the Portuguese are actually after the sacred scroll, and then finds Invincible Asia him/herself, who is not actually dead. Invincible Asia seeks to destroy all the imposters or 'false Invincible Asias' who have assumed his/her place leading cults, whilst the Portuguese, a mysterious Japanese warlord and others search for Invincible Asia and the Sacred Scroll.
Brigitte Lin
Director: Siu Tung-Ching
Sylvia (UK, 2003)
Biography/Drama/Romance
Story of the relationship between the poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Daniel Craig
Director: Christine Jeffs
T
This Is Spinal Tap (USA, 1984)
Comedy
Spinal Tap, the world's loudest band, is chronicled by hack documentarian Marti DeBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.
Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
Director: Rob Reiner
Trainspotting (UK, 1996)
Drama
Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.
Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle
Director: Danny Boyle
U
Der Untergang (Germany, 2004)
History/Drama/War
Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
V
Vatel (F/UK, 2000)
Drama/Romance
In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king's newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who's authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?
Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Julian Glover, Julian Sands
Director: Roland Joffé
W
Walk The Line (USA, 2005)
Biography/Drama/Music
The love of a woman, given reluctantly, saves a man from addiction and self-destruction. Traces the life of Johnny Cash from his boyhood, with loss of a brother and of his father's affection, to 1968 when his outlaw side and his unhappiness give way to the twin triumphs of his concert at Folsom Prison and June Carter's acceptance of his marriage proposal. Along the way there's his first composition, first recording, first marriage, daughters, being smitten with June, divorce, pills and booze, an empty life, and the Carter family's nursing him back to health. June eases Johnny out of a ring of fire.
Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoone
Director: James Mangold
The Whole Wide World (USA, 1996)
Biography/Drama/Romance
In Texas in the 1930s, young schoolteacher Novalyne Price meets a handsome, eccentric, interesting young man named Robert Howard. He's a successful writer - of the pulp stories of Conan the Barbarian; she's an aspiring one. A friendship develops into a sort of courtship. Based on a memoir by Novalyne Price.
Renée Zellweger, Vincent D'Onofrio
Director: Dan Ireland
X
Y
Z
Zatoichi (Japan, 2003)
Action/Drama/Crime/Martial Arts
Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. He's destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents' murder... Duels, wit and a touch of zen!
Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Ookusu
Director: Takeshi Kitano
TV Series:
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (S1)
Cold Feet. The Complete Collection
The Corn Mo Show
Hornblower
I, Claudius
New Doctor Who 2005
Robin of Sherwood
Music:
Feeder: Pushing The Senses
Kane Live 05
Live Aid
Paul Weller Modern Classics on Film 90-01
The Verve: This Is Music: The Singles 92-98
- Current Mood:
geeky - Current Music:'I'd Rather Be In Love' - Michelle Branch
Comments
That is such a wonderfully sad movie. Great music, great acting, and Land of Hope and (bloody) Glory as a dirge. Must watch again...
XWA
Aye, and I! Thoughtful, serious, at times depressing but with lighter touches; eminently enacted, lovingly made...British cinema at its best.
Yes, definitely worth another viewing!