Fywell, Tim

Norma Jean and Marilyn

Two of Hollywood's hottest young actresses Mira Sorvino (1995's Academy Award Winner: Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Mighty Aphrodite") and acclaimed stage and screen star Ashley Judd star as two sides of the woman America loved but who struggled to love herself: Marilyn Monroe. To the world Marilyn was a vivacious star the epitome of sexuality sensuality and frolicsome fun. Every man wanted her- every woman wanted to be her. But behind the enticing smile beneath the tight fitting dresses there was a dark secret- one Marilyn couldn't bury in her past the child inside called Norma Jean. Everything Norma Jean dreams of Marilyn achieves. Every man she struggles to resist Marilyn succumbs to. And while Marilyn climbs the ladder of success Norma Jean waits beneath it almost willing her to fall. Sensuous shocking sensational this is the secret life and loves of the girl called Norma Jean and the woman who became Marilyn.Running Time: 138 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 026359131622

Ice Princess (Full Screen Edition)

From Walt Disney Pictures, the studio that brought you THE PRINCESS DIARIES, ICE PRINCESS is a hilarious and heartwarming coming-of-age story featuring popular teen star Michelle Trachtenberg (TV's BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, EUROTRIP). Though she longs to become a graceful champion figure skater, gawky Casey Carlyle (Trachtenberg) has always been just a brainy high school misfit. And with a strong-willed mother (Joan Cusack -- RAISING HELEN) pushing her toward a top university, it seems as if she'll never get the chance to be like the elite skating prodigies she sees at the rink. But when Casey uses her head and follows her heart, she'll find herself transformed beyond her wildest dreams! Also starring Kim Cattrall, it's an uplifting and laugh-packed story your whole family will flip for!

Like The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Ice Princess is a fairy tale for girls who dream about what they can be. Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is a physics geek who discovers a mathematical formula for those tricky figure-skating jumps that her fellow high schoolers are performing. It's all part of her plan to nab a juicy college scholarship, but a funny thing happens on the way to Harvard: Casey decides that in the name of research she should try the jumps herself, and she discovers that not only does she have talent, she likes figure skating. Will she throw away her Ivy League dreams in favor of those frilly dresses? Ice Princess isn't a movie that will change the world, and it treads lightly on the downsides of the sport (it costs a lot of money, rivalries are bitter, careers are short, and long hours mean less time to party!); there's also more than one unfortunate reference to how skating makes Casey look "hot." But just as Casey says: "What's wrong with wanting to feel strong and graceful and beautiful?", what's wrong with a movie that lets people explore their options and make decisions for themselves? The on-ice action is believable, and Trachtenberg is especially appealing in the lead role. With Kim Cattrall as the snarling coach, Joan Cusack as Casey's anxious mom, Trevor Blumas as the light romantic interest, Hayden Panettiere as the rival, and champion skaters Michelle Kwan and Brian Boitano as themselves.--David Horiuchi

Cambridge Spies

In 1934 four brilliant young men at Cambridge University are recruited to spy for Russia. Fueled by youthful idealism a passion for social justice a talent for lying and a hatred for fascism the four take huge personal risks to pass Britain's biggest secrets to Moscow. Starring four of Britain's most talented young actors this epic yet intimate drama brings one of the twentieth century's most compelling true stories to exciting new life.Running Time: 240 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 794051186324

This moody BBC 2003 dramatization of the most notorious debacle in the history of the British Secret Service raises the specter of the treachery of Philby, Burgess, MacLean, and Blunt for a generation of viewers who can only imagine the shockwaves generated by their duplicity. Inevitably the story suffers from the basically repellent quality of its raw material. Determinedly nonjudgmental, it frequently stumbles along a precarious path between romantic eulogy and fact-based fable of the perils of idealism. For all the handsome casting, the characters have little charm to compensate for their deeds. Their motivations are sketched only vaguely. Even in moments of personal vulnerability, however poignant the performances, sympathy is at a premium. But it has its high points as an atmospheric soap opera: the recreation of a period that stretches from the radical aspects of 1930s university life at Cambridge to cold war London, dipping into the Spanish Civil War and the Washington diplomatic circle en route, is vivid. The acting, too, is fine. Tom Hollander's rampantly dissolute Burgess verges constantly on parody. But Toby Stephens (Philby), Samuel West (a frosty Blunt), and Rupert Penry-Jones (an emotionally wrung-out MacLean) work wonders with Peter Moffat's insubstantial script. --Piers Ford

The Woman in White

Wilkie Collins is hot. One of the most underrated Victorian mystery writers, Collins offers up eerie, evocative tales. While The Moonstone may be his best-known novel (it was made into a 1996 telefilm starring Sense and Sensibility's Greg Wise), The Woman in White is an equally affecting and engaging tale. A timeless gothic story, it is told from the perspective of Marian (Tara Fitzgerald), who's staying at a villa with her cousin Laura (Justine Waddell). The women become involved with a sympathetic painter and a slew of duplicitous aristocrats, including one played by James Wilby. Then there's that woman (who looks a lot like Laura), cloaked in white, who keeps running around the garden grounds at night. Fitzgerald is far too gorgeous to be the plain Marian, heroine of the novel, but costumers make a valiant--if unsuccessful--attempt to make her look dowdy and less attractive than Waddell. Fitzgerald is so lovely and likable that audiences are easily drawn into her predicament. Who is the mysterious woman in white? How and why has Laura disappeared? Simon Callow is particularly notable as the suave Count Fosco, who may or may not be who he seems to be. The Woman in White was made into a 1982 miniseries and five other film versions. Trivia note: Ian Richardson appears in both the 1982 version and this one. --N.F. Mendoza

Set in the late 19th century, this adaptation of Wilkie Collins' mystery thriller is a slowly unraveling nightmare that reveals a dark world of powerful and dangerous men.

A young drawing master, Mr. Hartright (Andrew Lincoln), is hired by the fretful Mr. Fairlie (Ian Richardson) to teach his two nieces, Marian (Tara Fitzgerald) and Laura (Justine Waddell). On his way to their house, Hartright is startled by a mysterious encounter with a ghostly woman dressed in white.

When he meets Fairlie's nieces, he is struck by Laura's resemblance to the woman in white, and tells Marian and Laura of the ethereal woman. Determined to learn all they can about the woman in white, the girls find themselves drawn into a vortex of secrets, crime and treacherous involvement with the fascinating, but sinister, Count Fosco (Simon Callow).

Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

The Patient s Eyes A beautiful young woman is haunted by a masked cyclist who pursues her through the woods. To Doyle s surprise the pursuer is real. And so are the hideous murders connected to a gruesome incident in the Boer War.The Photographer s Chair Doyle and Bell investigate a serial killer s victims all of whom bare unusual markings. Doyle looks to a spiritualist for answers and is cautioned about his investigation from beyond the grave. Little does he know about the murderer s plans for his victims in the afterlife.The Kingdom of Bones When an ancient Egyptian mummy is unwrapped in public a recently murdered Englishman is found involving Doyle and Bell in a bombing conspiracy.The White Knight Strategem Two men with knowledge of a woman s suicide are murdered setting off a heated disagreement between Bell and an old police rival. At the risk of alienating Bell Doyle sides with the policeman but both men prove only partly correct.System Requirements:Running Time 720 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE UPC: 030306811390 Manufacturer No: DVD8113

Ice Princess (Widescreen Edition)

Like The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Ice Princess is a fairy tale for girls who dream about what they can be. Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is a physics geek who discovers a mathematical formula for those tricky figure-skating jumps that her fellow high schoolers are performing. It's all part of her plan to nab a juicy college scholarship, but a funny thing happens on the way to Harvard: Casey decides that in the name of research she should try the jumps herself, and she discovers that not only does she have talent, she likes figure skating. Will she throw away her Ivy League dreams in favor of those frilly dresses? Ice Princess isn't a movie that will change the world, and it treads lightly on the downsides of the sport (it costs a lot of money, rivalries are bitter, careers are short, and long hours mean less time to party!); there's also more than one unfortunate reference to how skating makes Casey look "hot." But just as Casey says: "What's wrong with wanting to feel strong and graceful and beautiful?", what's wrong with a movie that lets people explore their options and make decisions for themselves? The on-ice action is believable, and Trachtenberg is especially appealing in the lead role. With Kim Cattrall as the snarling coach, Joan Cusack as Casey's anxious mom, Trevor Blumas as the light romantic interest, Hayden Panettiere as the rival, and champion skaters Michelle Kwan and Brian Boitano as themselves.--David Horiuchi

From Walt Disney Pictures, the studio that brought you THE PRINCESS DIARIES, ICE PRINCESS is a hilarious and heartwarming coming-of-age story featuring popular teen star Michelle Trachtenberg (TV's BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, EUROTRIP). Though she longs to become a graceful champion figure skater, gawky Casey Carlyle (Trachtenberg) has always been just a brainy high school misfit. And with a strong-willed mother (Joan Cusack -- RAISING HELEN) pushing her toward a top university, it seems as if she'll never get the chance to be like the elite skating prodigies she sees at the rink. But when Casey uses her head and follows her heart, she'll find herself transformed beyond her wildest dreams! Also starring Kim Cattrall, it's an uplifting and laugh-packed story your whole family will flip for!

Masterpiece Theatre: The Wilkie Collins Set - The Woman in White/The Moonstone

Along a dark country road in Cumberland England a ghoulish woman in white steps from the shadows to confront a foot traveler Walter Hartright (Andrew Lincoln) bound for Limmeridge House three miles off. She asks senseless questions: "You don't suspect me of wrong do you Sir? Why do you suspect me of wrong?" Hartright assures her he suspects her of no wrong but she gibbers on. When a carriage happens by the woman dissolves into the darkness and Hartright accepts the offer of a ride the rest of the way to Limmeridge House a mansion where eccentric esquire Frederick Fairlie (Ian Richardson) has arranged for Hartright to tutor his nieces -- half-sisters Marian and Laura Fairlie -- in the art of drawing. Soon Hartright falls in love with Laura a wealthy heiress. Strangely she is the near mirror image of the woman in white. Laura in turn falls in love with him. Marian who wants only the best for Laura approves of the romance. Unfortunately Hartright loses his job when falsely accused of bad conduct. Before he leaves Limmeridge House he warns Laura that she and her sister are in grave danger. Deeply disappointed in him Laura ignores his caveat and fulfills a pledge to marry Sir Percival Gylde (James Wilby). He seems amiable and even invites Marian to live with him and Laura after the wedding. But when Laura returns from the honeymoon she is melancholy and morose hardly speaking a word to Marian. Glyde and a sinister visitor named Count Fosco (Simon Callow) are the reasons. Apparently they are plotting to seize her inheritance using the tidiest of stratagems: murder. Meanwhile dark secrets unravel involving Glyde's family background and the mysterious woman in white and Hartright returns in an attempt to save the sisters and exorcise the evil possessing Limmeridge House. ~ Mike Cummings All Movie GuideSystem Requirements:Run Time: 224 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 783421412996 Manufacturer No: WG41299

I Capture the Castle

When her family moves into a glamorous castle in the English countryside, Cassandra (Romola Garai) imagines great things will happen. But the decaying castle loses its appeal as her novelist father (Bill Nighy, Love Actually) develops writer's block and her mother dies of cancer. From this sad beginning, I Capture the Castle turns into an utterly engaging coming-of-age story as 17-year-old Cassandra and her older sister Rose (Rose Byrne) struggle to win the attentions of their new American landlord (Henry Thomas, E.T. The Extraterrestrial)--but when everything goes the way Cassandra hopes, her hopes fall apart. Garai's wonderful performance carries the audience through bittersweet discoveries about life and adulthood with hope and yearning. The entire cast---also featuring Tara Fitzgerald (Brassed Off) and Marc Blucas--is superb. I Capture the Castle is an absolutely lovely movie, delightful and surprisingly wise. --Bret Fetzer

Affinity

Based on the mystery romance novel by Sarah Waters Affinity is a tale of power and possession in the late 19th century. Margaret Prior is a socialite who finds escape and purpose as a mentor who brings hope and comfort to the female inmates at the Millbank prison. However she becomes infatuated with Selina Dawes a medium who was incarcerated after a s ance went horribly awry. As the story unfolds Margaret who is at first skeptical of Selina s gifts soon discovers a world of secrets and shadows heightened passions and the allure of the supernatural.System Requirements:Running Time: 94 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/GAY & LESBIAN Rating: NR UPC: 097368925649 Manufacturer No: 892564

Ice Princess

Like The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Ice Princess is a fairy tale for girls who dream about what they can be. Casey Carlyle (Michelle Trachtenberg of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is a physics geek who discovers a mathematical formula for those tricky figure-skating jumps that her fellow high schoolers are performing. It's all part of her plan to nab a juicy college scholarship, but a funny thing happens on the way to Harvard: Casey decides that in the name of research she should try the jumps herself, and she discovers that not only does she have talent, she likes figure skating. Will she throw away her Ivy League dreams in favor of those frilly dresses? Ice Princess isn't a movie that will change the world, and it treads lightly on the downsides of the sport (it costs a lot of money, rivalries are bitter, careers are short, and long hours mean less time to party!); there's also more than one unfortunate reference to how skating makes Casey look "hot." But just as Casey says: "What's wrong with wanting to feel strong and graceful and beautiful?", what's wrong with a movie that lets people explore their options and make decisions for themselves? The on-ice action is believable, and Trachtenberg is especially appealing in the lead role. With Kim Cattrall as the snarling coach, Joan Cusack as Casey's anxious mom, Trevor Blumas as the light romantic interest, Hayden Panettiere as the rival, and champion skaters Michelle Kwan and Brian Boitano as themselves.--David Horiuchi