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Fantastic Four - Rise Of The Silver Surfer [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Michael Chiklis, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Kerry Washington
directed by: Tim Story

October 08, 2007
This film is good if you can manage to poke your fingers into your eyes and ignore Jessica Alba and the fact that she seems to have been coated with orange wax and given the worst wig in history. The other characters are as good as they were in the first film and there are some cool plot twists. Unfortunately, I found it so hard not to focus on the fact that Ms Alba was made up to look like the bastard lovechild of a genetically disadvantaged Barbie Doll and a packet of Wotsits that it essentially spoiled a film that I had been really looking forward to seeing.

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Star Trek - Deep Space Nine - Series 3 (Slimline Edition)

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
by: Star Trek Deep Space Nine

April 30, 2007
Season 3 of d9 produced memorable episodes and has quite a lot of episodes involving Garak, which I find always make the episode at least interesting. Episodes like Second Skin and Civil Defense are possibly some of my favourite ds9 episodes. Civil Defense apparently was a nightmare to make with the technical problems they had to get around. Prophet Motive was almsot my favourite Ferengi episode becuase of how interesting it was to Zek as the most generous person around. An episode ODO directed, lol. Du Kat does not feature much in this season, only about 2 episodes and theres no Weyoun, but near the end of the season, theres a very nice 2 episodes interlinked "Improbable cause" and "The Die is Cast" where the Romulan and Cardassian inteligence ... Read More:

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Night Watch / Day Watch (Special Edition Directors Cuts) [2005]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Maria Poroshina, Galina Tunina, Victor Verzhbitsky
directed by: Timur Bekmambetov

January 28, 2008
It is true that, unfortunately, this edition of Night Watch only has English subtitles for the impaired of hearing, but this is - in my opinion - more than compensated by the fact that the version shown is the Russian rather than the International edition, with quite a few differences and even a charachter - Ignat - who was present in the Russian version but edited out of the international one.

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Excalibur [1981]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey
directed by: John Boorman

May 15, 2000
John Boorman's 1981 film is an exercise in how to treat fantasy in an adult and serious manner.
The fantasy elements are subtle - there are no stop motion monsters to be found here - and yet still pervade the movie with a sense of the magical & arcane. This film in no way attempts a realistic approach to the extent of 2004's King Arthur.
Merlin as portrayed here is dark & ambiguous, constantly aware of the end of the time of magic & the old gods. A very eccentic performance by the
excellent Nicol Williamson. Helen Mirren as the evil & seductive sorceress, Morgana gives an erotically charged performance that is not easily forgotten!
Nigel Terry as Arthur is a bit wooden BUT his tone & manner suits the film's often ... Read More:

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Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Jason Bateman, Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Zach Mills
directed by: Zach Helm

May 12, 2008
Let me make this clear first. I didn't watch this film with any children, nor am I some sort of child in a mans body. I'm a lover of movies that seek to entertain, inspire and teach. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium does all three and the supporting cast to Dustin Hoffman really make this movie work.

Dustin Hoffman plays the eccentric toy shop owner who's over 240 years old and a believer in magic. One day he tells his dependable shop manager, Mahoney played by Natalie Portman that he's "Leaving." Firstly he must hire an accountant who we come to know solely as Mutant played by Jason Bateman to sort out all his paperwork, all 240 years worth. This becomes a story of friendship, love, belief and living life to the full to achieve all you wanted to ... Read More:

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Day Watch [2006]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valery Zolotukhin, Maria Poroshina, Galina Tunina
directed by: Timur Bekmambetov

January 28, 2008
The books are slow and boring. The films are better (more fast and some spectacular). But the plot is complex and a little confused.

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The Fifth Element [1997]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich, Chris Tucker
directed by: Luc Besson

October 25, 1999
I had never seen this film before, but had bought it a while ago. It was sat in my DVD drawer... (Yes I have a DVD drawer) It was constantly calling my name, begging me to stick it in my PS3 and enjoy the ride I had heard so much about. How disappointed was I when I was given a movie, that at times even lost itself when it came to what it was about and how it was meant to present itself. It has been billed as a Sci-Fi, action thriller. At times it became a slapstick comedy and others it became a romance movie set in the future. I'm not sure whether she's cursed, but Milla Jovovich has a knack at appearing in over hyped, yet terrible movies. Need I mention the first two Resident Evil movies or the travesty that was Ultraviolet?

The basic plot outline ... Read More:

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Battlestar Galactica : Complete Seasons 1-3 (16 Disc Box Set) [2004]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis

October 22, 2007
I was never a fan of the original, but this re imagined version hooked me right form the start. Its structured as a complete story with lots of strong and flawed characters and plenty of action. There are interesting relationships and B5 fans will undoubtedly appreciate the who-you-are / what-you-are implications of the story.

Acting, CGI special effects, and production are all excellent.

Highly recommended.

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V - Series 1 - Complete [1984]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: Marc Singer, Jane Badler, Faye Grant, Jennifer Cooke, Jeff Yagher
directed by: Earl Bellamy, Ray Austin

August 11, 2008
The original mini series of V and its sequel The Final Battle proved to be very successful both in the USA and in Britain where they were shown by ITV after problems emerged over the rights to screen the 1984 Olympics. Rather than watching the olympics on BBC1 live from Los Angeles, viewers were more intrigued by other events going on in the city, namely the arrival of seemingly humanoid aliens who were actually lizards in disguise who had come to invade the Earth. The series proved to be a surprise hit and in late 1984, an hour long series was developed following on from the events of The Final Battle. It is clear that teh budget for the series was considerably less than that of the previous series. The strange vibrating voices of the aliens have gone, meaning that they no sound ... Read More:

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Frank Herbert's Dune--TV series [2000]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Science Fiction and Fantasy
starring: William Hurt, Alec Newman, Saskia Reeves, James Watson (IV), Jan Vlasák
directed by: John Harrison

November 26, 2001
This is not the David Lynch movie but the TV mini series. Completely different. Rather good actually.