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No Country For Old Men [2008]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Kelly MacDonald, Stephen Root
directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

June 02, 2008
I saw this movie at the cinema and I couldn't wait for it to end. I thought it was very sickening and nasty and very boring in parts. I was just counting down the minutes to it ending - probably the worst film I have seen this year, along with Michael Clayton! I expected A LOT more!

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Michael Clayton [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack
directed by: Tony Gilroy

February 18, 2008
I don't know what it is about George Clooney, but the man seems to be as conflicted as some of the characters he plays when it comes to his movie roles. On the one hand he can deliver likeable if somewhat light weight roles such as those in the shallow series of crowd pleasers known as the Oceans movies, and on the other he can give us some heavy weight fare, such as Good Night and Good Luck, and this particularly fine piece of modern cinema.
Michael Clayton (Clooney, obviously) is what is known as the "fixer" for an upmarket law firm, the man the firm turns to when they have a problem that they need sorting out discreetly. However, Michael is not without his problems, including a gambling habit, a failing restaurant, ... Read More:

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The Bank Job [2008]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Jason Statham, David Suchet, Stephen Campbell Moore, Keeley Hawes, Saffron Burrows
directed by: Roger Donaldson

June 30, 2008
The story has been outlined here several times so I go straight on to my opinion...
I watched this film last night and must say I haven't been that entertained like this in a long time. There are tense moments, it's funny, in one part a little gruesome (whatever your imagination is) and you will not know how it ends until it ends. The actors are great, the dialogue is intelligent and brilliantly British. The film left nothing to wish for - I had sweaty hands.

Definitely 5 stars from me and I just bought the DVD for my picky dad's birthday. I know he'll love it, too.

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The Godfather Trilogy: Remastered Collection - Limited Edition Steelbook [1971] (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk)

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

June 02, 2008
I've owned the previous 5-Disc Set of the Godfather (2001 Release), and I can safely say that the Coppola Restoration is well worth getting, especially at this price, and even better in this limited steelbook package.

I've compared the pictures of the two sets on a Plasma, and there is a huge difference between the two, the print on this new dvd set is far better than the other, a huge differnce in the brightness of the picture, enables the viewer to see clearly and slightly more of the picture.

In addition, Part 2 is in one Disc as opposed to two, which is great, as now we don't need to change the DVD mid-way through. Instead, they've devoted the extra 5th Disc on New Bonus Features which talk about the restoration, along with ... Read More:

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There Will Be Blood (2 disc Special Edition) [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Ciarán Hinds, Kevin J. O'Connor, Barry Del Sherman, Dillon Freasier
directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

July 07, 2008
'There Will Be Blood' is probably THE Marmite film of the decade. If you're not from the UK, you might need me to explain. We have a foodstuff called Marmite which is made from yeast extract, a bi-product of the brewing process. It's got a weird, salty, beefy kind of taste, but it's quite tasty on toast. Well... some people think it's tasty. People who like Marmite LOVE Marmite, and people who hate it retch at the very thought of it. Thus, 'There Will Be Blood' is a Marmite film. Personally, I'm in the camp that loves it.
The cinematography is stunning, as good as Kubrick at his best, and Johnny Greenwood's jangling, atonal score suits the film's jittery, tense mood perfectly. Day Lewis's performance eventually reaches the point of hysteria that others have criticised, ... Read More:

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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Season 7 Part 2

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Robert David Hall, Marg Helgenberger, Eric Szmanda, George Eads, Paul Guilfoyle

February 25, 2008
This is yet another DVD that I bought to fill out my collection (mostly because I already own all the other CSI boxsets) and yet again I wasn't disappointed. This set includes some of the best episodes so far in the CSI history, although sometimes it does focus slightly too much on the minor characters. Having said that, it has made me appreciate Hodges and his sarcasm that little bit more...

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American Gangster Extended Edition [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin
directed by: Ridley Scott

March 10, 2008
American Gangster is a solid piece of entertainment featuring two standout performances from Washington and Crowe who are well supported by an ensemble of fine character actors. Incidental music, costumes and sets effectively recreate the New York of the 1970s, a time of Vietnam, racial tension and police corruption.

It may not stand comparison with the very best examples of the genre, but can certainly hold its own against recent crime flicks such as The Departed.

Definitely worth a watch to see the two lead actors breathing life into two rather clichéd characters (Crowe's world-weary cop and Washington's ruthless drug baron) but you might want to try it out as a rental before buying.

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24: Complete Season 6 [2007] [2002]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, D.B. Woodside, James Morrison, Peter MacNicol
directed by: Jon Cassar, Brad Turner, Bryan Spicer, Regina King

October 01, 2007
Despite the criticisms voiced over this series, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sure there are times you think 'What, not again'. As CTU's security is compromised again. As another director of CTU is removed. Despite this, the 24 factor is still there and each episode ends with a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more.
The new characters introduced play there roles well and there are enough unexpected twist and turns to keep you interested.
I'm off to get series 7. What better recommendation is there?

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The Wire: Complete HBO Season 4

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Dominic West, Michael K. Williams, Sonja Sohn

March 10, 2008
In its 4th season, The Wire continues to deserve its oft given title of "best show on TV".

This season concentrates on the school system, adding it to The Wire's already complex mix of crime, politics, trade unions and more. Teachers deal with growing violence and also have to fight against a school system that is more focused on meeting targets than actually helping the children in their care. Sounds familiar...

All the (surviving) favourites are back, but the real plaudits should go to the new "corner kids" who seem to be doomed to end up as drug dealers. The child actors are all astonishingly good, and fit in well with the stellar cast.

Highly recommended.

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Damages - Season 1 [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
starring: Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Ted Danson, Zeljko Ivanek, Tate Donovan
directed by: Mario Van Peebles

April 14, 2008
Very complex plot - Think it would have been diffcult to enjoy if I had had to wait a week between each episode. Fantastic acting and so many very dark charactors.

The use of broken time lines and fractured story telling is amazing - you think you know the end at the begining but you don't and no matter how many jumps back and foreward in time the director takes you on you are constantly supprised at how the threads come together.

Buy it - Open a bottle of wine and get through as many episodes in one go as you can - this is the perfect "Lost weekend" box set