Monday, March 1, 2010

Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising (PC DVD)

Manufacturer's Description
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising features a new playable army, the traitorous Chaos Space Marines, and continues the epic journey of the Blood Ravens as they battle this new, more personal enemy. Developed by award-winning internal studio Relic Entertainment, Chaos Rising offers new single-player and co-op campaigns, a level cap increase from 20 to 30, more powerful war-gear and a suite of innovative multiplayer options.

The Hurt Locker [Blu-ray] [2008]

Amazon.co.uk Review
Rightly attracting major awards attention, The Hurt Locker is a supreme, tense and gripping piece of drama. And it grabs your attention from the stunning opening scene, which perfectly gets across the dangers faced by the specialist bomb disposal squad that we spend the rest of the film following.

Chief among them is Jeremy Renner’s Sergeant William James, who is the focal point for much of The Hurt Locker. The film spends some time digging into his head and why he does what he does, and his approach doesn’t always leave him eye-to-eye with the rest of his squad. Renner, in surely a star-making performance, delivers a rounded, three-dimensional portrayal of a man you could easily write off as a maverick, and the film is significantly enriched as a result.

But then with director Kathryn Bigelow behind the camera delivering her best film to date, The Hurt Locker excels still further. Her gritty, haunting visuals look superb in high definition too, evoking the down-to-earth shooting style Bigelow employs, and making the most of the assorted set-pieces she puts on film. It’s the sound that really gets you too, cleverly eating up the full breadth of a good surround-sound set-up, and carefully teasing you more and more into the film.

Not that you’re likely to need much persuading. The Hurt Locker is a terrific war movie, and a very human one. It’s also packaged on a quality Blu-ray that matches up strong presentation with interesting extra feature. It comes very highly recommended. --Jon Foster

Product Description
Evangeline Lilly, Christopher Sayegh, Nabil Koni, Sam Spruell, Sam RedfordDirector: Kathryn Bigelow

American VI: Ain't No Grave - Johnny Cash

CD Description
American VI: Ain't No Grave, is the sixth and final installment of Johnny Cash's critically-acclaimed American Recordings album series, and as with the previous five albums, American VI was produced by Rick Rubin. The songs on are drawn from all over the musical landscape and from various eras, and include Sheryl Crow's moving "Redemption Day", Kris Kristofferson's "For The Good Times", "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound" by Tom Paxton, Bob Nolan's "Cool Water," and the never before heard Cash original, "I Corinthians: 15:55", written over the last three years of his life.

LEGO Creator 626 Green Baseplate

Manufacturer's Description
This green baseplate measures 10" x 10" (25cm x 25cm), so it's a great place to start building castles, skyscrapers, or what ever your imagination can come up with.

Product Description
The perfect starting point for LEGO creations! This green base plate measures 10'' x 10'' (255mm x 255mm), so it's a great place to start building castles, skyscrapers, or what ever your imagination comes up with. 4 Years +

Friday, February 26, 2010

Alvin And The Chipmunks [DVD] [2007]

Amazon.co.uk Review
A staggering surprise success at the box office just before Christmas 2007, the reason for the popularity of Alvin and the Chipmunks soon becomes clear. Not only is it a new adventure for a popular set of characters of old, it’s also a fun, breezy family movie, that the kids in particular will enjoy.

Starring Jason Lee (of My Name Is Earl fame), Alvin and the Chipmunks mixes in live action and CGI chipmunks (Alvin, Simon and Theodore) in a story that sees that moved from their natural habitat into the midst of the big city. The plot then becomes as predictable as you’d expect, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had anyway.

For Alvin and the Chipmunks has plenty in its corner. It’s funny, first and foremost, and moves along at a good pace, never forgetting that its prime job is to entertain its audience. And that’s something it easily manages to do, wrapping everything up by remembering not to outstay its welcome, either.

Considering that Alvin and the Chipmunks enjoy a legion of fans that stretch back decades, it’s perhaps not a surprise after all that the film enjoyed the success it did. But what’s pleasing is that the spirit of the source material, in spite of its contemporary setting, is adhered to, and there’s fun for all in the end product. --Jon Foster

Napoleon: Total War - Imperial Edition (PC DVD) - Sega

Manufacturer's Description
Pit yourself against history's greatest military genius or play the role of the infamous general himself in the biggest Total War game yet. Re-imagine some of the most famous battles in world history as you set out to either defend or conquer all of Europe.
With all the features of the top-rated Empire: Total War this features stunningly realistic battles on land and sea, with even more detailed graphics than ever before. Plus, you have full strategic control of your country's military, industrial and diplomatic resources - any of which can be delegated to computer control whenever you want.

Not only is the new story-orientated single-player mode the most cinematic ever in a Total War game, but this is the first in the series to feature a full multiplayer mode. Now you can play a whole campaign against a friend, not just individual battles, and find out exactly who will become the master of Europe.
Key Features

* Napoleon's story: Lead you armies in two all-new story campaigns in Italy and Egypt. Will you ensure history repeats itself or achieve what even Napoleon himself could not?
* Imperial glory: Plunge into the massive "grand campaign" with all the features and freedom of a standard Total War game, including land and sea battles and new diplomacy options.
* Instant action: Jump straight into major battles such as Waterloo, Trafalgar and Austerlitz in standalone historical scenarios where every detail, from weather to terrain, makes a difference.
* Battle joined: For the first time ever in a Total War game you can play the whole campaign mode online against friends, or have opponents drop-in for one-off battles in single player mode.
* Uniform look: Uniform editor lets you customise your own troops for the first time, plus other new features including online voice chat and an improved physics engine.

About the Developer: The Creative Assembly
With a history dating back to 1987, this developer came into their own with Shogun: Total War in 2000. Based in Horsham, West Sussex the studio has also dabbled with action games such as Viking: Battle for Asgard and their first sci-fi strategy game Stormrise. They were bought by Sega in 2005.

Product Description
Napoleon: Total War Pre-order Elite unit--This exclusive elite unit is only available when you pre-order Napoleon: Total War, delivering a new and powerful strategic option to deploy in the name of your faction. Once the game is installed and verified by Steam, you can enter a unique code and unlock your elite unit, which will then appear in single player and multiplayer games. In order to play Napoleon: Total War and unlock your exclusive unit you must connect to the internet to verify your game and code once during installation. Pre-order unit--Grand Battery of the Convention: With twice as many guns as an ordinary artillery unit, the Grand Battery is an exceptionally strong unit. Its cannons have both a long range and tremendous killing power.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters (Paperback) - Rick Riordan

Review
Praise for the Percy Jackson series: 'Witty and inspired. Gripping, touching and deliciously satirical...This is most likely to succeed Rowling. Puffin is on to a winner' - Amanda Craig, The Times 'Puns, jokes and subtle wit, alongside a gripping storyline' - Telegraph 'Perfectly paced, with electrifying moments chasing each other like heartbeats' – New York Times

Product Description
You can't tell by looking at me that my dad is Poseidon, God of the Sea. It's not easy being a half-blood these days. You mortals can't even see the monsters we have to fight all the time. So when a game of dodgeball turned into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, I couldn't exactly ask my gym teacher for help. And that was just for starters. This is the one where Camp Half Blood is under attack, and unless I get my hands on the Golden Fleece, the whole camp will be invaded by monsters. Big ones. Can Percy survive the treacherous Sea of Monsters and restore order to Half-Blood Hill?

Monday, February 22, 2010

Michael Jackson's This Is It (2 Disc Collector's Edition) [DVD] [2009]

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's hard not to watch This Is It without feeling a mixture of sorrow and elation. When he passed away in the summer of 2009, Michael Jackson was in the midst of rehearsals for his final tour, an ambitious 50-date engagement. In editing 120 hours of rehearsal footage together, Jackson producer Kenny Ortega proves that it would've been an event for the ages. Michael performs material that spans his career, from a Motown medley to multi-platinum hits from Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Though he hadn't toured in 10 years, it becomes instantly apparent, despite rumours to the contrary, that Jackson was still in full possession of that unmistakable voice--high-pitched whoops and all--and that he still had the gravity-defying moves of a man half his age. Jackson and Ortega also collaborated on some real showstoppers, such as a graveyard-set "Thriller"; an imposing "They Don't Care About Us," in which several dancers appear to morph into thousands; and a film noir sequence in which the singer slides in and out of Gilda and other black-and-white classics, singing "Smooth Criminal" all the while. Not everything works, like the Jackson 5 numbers, in which he flubs a few lyrics, claiming that his earpiece isn't working properly, but as he readily acknowledges, "That's what rehearsal is for." It's a tragedy that he didn't get the chance to share this dazzling show with the world, but Ortega allows fans to feel as if it actually happened--at least onscreen. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Alvin And The Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel

CD Description
The official soundtrack to the movie Squeakquel, where pop sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore end up in the care of Dave Seville's twenty-something nephew Toby (Zach Levi). The boys must put aside music superstardom to return to school, and are tasked with saving the school's music program by winning the $25,000 prize in a battle of the bands. But the Chipmunks unexpectedly meet their match in three singing chipmunks known as "The Chipettes" – Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette. Romantic and musical sparks are ignited when the Chipmunks and Chipettes square off.

I'm New Here - Gil Scott-Heron

CD Description
The legendary poet and singer songwriter Gil-Scott Heron has often been cited as the Godfather of Rap and Hip Hop due to his groundbreaking social poetry. 'I'm New Here' is produced by Richard Russell, the owner of British label XL, and who blisteringly delivers Heron a bleak musical backdrop to perform against. Ranging from minimalist electronics to dark gospel, the poet's words have never sounded so poignant. This is a sublime record that evokes sadness and hope in equal measure. Features covers of artists such as Smog (the title track 'I'm New Here') and Robert Johnson ('Me And The Devil').

Bakugan Battle Pack - Spin Master

Product Description
Answer the call to brawl and decide the fate of the galaxy with the Bakagun Battle Pack! Action Figures pop open from the magnetic marbles when they land on the Special Bakugan Card! This great set is ideal for two to play or as a mega boost to your current set and comes with two special collectors cards not found in other packs! Set includes 6 Bakugans, 6 Metallic Cards and 6 Ability Cards!

LEGO Star Wars 8083 Rebel Trooper Battle Pack

Product Description
Build up your Rebel forces and celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back!When the Empire attacks the hidden Rebel base on the ice planet Hoth, brave Rebel troopers and pilots fight back with their combat speeder with flick-firing missiles. Includes 3 Rebel troopers in cold-weather gear and Rebel pilot Zev Senesca.Includes Rebel combat speeder vehicle, Rebel pilot Zev Sensca and 3 Rebel troopers. Launch the 2 flick-firing missiles mounted on the ice-cutting combat speeder. Rebel troopers equipped with cold-weather gear including the NEW Hoth helmet. Measures over 4'' (10cm) long. 6 Years +

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Hitman: Blood Money (PC) - MAD

Game Information
* Platform: Windows XP
* BBFC Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over Suitable for 18 years and over. Not for sale to persons under age 18. By placing an order for this product, you declare that you are 18 years of age or over.
* Media: Video Game

Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft

Amazon.co.uk Preview
It’s easy to see why there was so much fighting amongst the console manufacturers to try and make this game a format exclusive. Where early launch titles may have disappointed this game not only looks like a next generation game but it plays like it too. Taken at face value the story casts you as an Arabic fighter in 1191, out to assassinate the nine Western leaders of the Third Crusade. There is more to the story than that though making it more than simple historical adventure it first seems.

Since it’s developed by many of the same team behind Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, it’s no surprise to find the game using many of the same ideas. With the bold claim that you can climb on or over anything in the game world that sticks out more than two inches, this allows incredible freedom of movement, with a style of acrobatics heavily influenced by Parkour/free running. The game also innovates in terms of combat, with each of the face buttons controlling a different area of the body, rather like a marionette. As such one button controls the feet, one your open hand, one your weapon hand and the other your head.

As an assassin stealth plays an important role in the game too, but here it’s often a case of hiding in plain sight as you mill around inside large crowds of people. Everyone will react to you realistically though, so if you go around pushing people out of the way, or even killing them, the crowd will react and report you. With stunning graphics and genuinely innovative gameplay this is destined to be one of the most important releases of the year.
HARRISON DENT

Product Description
Assassin's Creed is set in 1191 AD, when the Third Crusade was tearing the Holy Land apart. Shrouded in secrecy and feared for their ruthlessness, the Assassins intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict.

Gone (Hardcover) - Mo Hayder

Product Description
November in the West Country. Evening is closing in as murder detective Jack Caffery arrives to interview the victim of a car-jacking. He's dealt with routine car-thefts before, but this one is different. This car was taken by force. And on the back seat was a passenger. An eleven-year-old girl. Who is still missing. Before long the jacker starts to communicate with the police: 'It's started,' he tells them. 'And it ain't going to stop just sudden, is it?' And Caffery knows that he's going to do it again. Soon the jacker will choose another car with another child on the back seat. Caffery's a good and instinctive cop; the best in the business, some say. But this time he knows something's badly wrong. Because the jacker seems to be ahead of the police - every step of the way...

About the Author
Mo Hayder has written some of the most terrifying crime thrillers you will ever read. Her first novel, Birdman, was hailed as a 'first-class shocker' by the Guardian and her follow-up, The Treatment was voted by the Times one of 'the top ten most scary thrillers ever written' Mo's books are 100% authentic, drawing on her long research association with several UK police forces and on her personal encounters with criminals and prostitutes. She now lives in England's West Country and is a full-time writer.

Gone Tomorrow (Paperback) - Lee Child

Amazon.co.uk Review
Lee Child has steadily accrued one of the keenest groups of admirers for any contemporary thriller writer – and the reason is easy to discern. In such gritty and authoritative novels as Tripwire, Killing Floor and Die Trying, Child established his tough itinerant protagonist Jack Reacher as a key modern hero, with a taciturn, hard-boiled appeal that has not palled over many books (though some have queried Jack’s transformation from a man who triumphed -- with difficulty – over insuperable odds – into a nigh-invulnerable super-hero). But the narrative grasp of the author remains absolutely iron-clad, and there are the stunningly drawn American locales that are so notably impressive from an English author.

In the latest outing for Jack Reacher, Gone Tomorrow, Child’s resourceful hero is travelling in New York City, observing his fellow passengers on the subway. He’s aware that suicide bombers are easy to spot – they’re usually nervous, and (as he wryly notes) by definition they're first-timers. As an ex-law enforcer, Jack notices that of his five fellow travellers, one is distinctly giving out the signals that spell danger. Grand Central Station is approaching – will Jack act and save lives – including his own? But… what if he's wrong?

This high voltage situation is the arresting curtain opener here, and the tension is screwed tighter, as Jack Reacher is pitched against the one of the most challenging threats he has come up against. Gone Tomorrow has all the dynamism of Child’s earlier work; spruced-up, super-charged and showing no sign of age. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Friday, February 19, 2010

One Life Stand - Hot Chip

Amazon.co.uk Review
Hot Chip's last couple of albums--2006's The Warning and 2008's Made In The Dark--brimmed with the quintet's quirky brand of Prince-like soul, down and dirty hip hop and infectious disco-funk, spawning singles like "Over and Over", "Ready For The Floor" and the wonderful "Boy From School". On One Life Stand, Alexis Taylor and co. have fought against some of their more excitable tendencies and produced an album that's a bit less wild at heart but ultimately more coherent and satisfying. As the exuberant "Thieves In The Night", plangent piano and potent drums of "Hand Me Down Your Love" and pounding title track show, Hot Chip's destination is still very much the dancefloor. There are a couple of slower, more somber tracks-–"Brothers", for example, and "Slush", a brave but successful 6/8 ballad-–but they soon get back to the party with "Alley Cats", the vibrant "We Have Love" and the euphoric finale "Take Me In". In many ways One Life Stand is the perfect electronic pop album. Its mix of colourful songwriting and intelligent lyrics combined with catchy hooks and a continued quest for a rump-shaking good time place Hot Chip at the very top of their game. --Danny McKenna

Up Superset (2 Blu-ray Discs + 1 DVD Disc + 1 Digital Copy Disc) [2009]

Amazon.co.uk Review
At a time when too many animated films consist of anthropomorphized animals cracking sitcom one-liners and flatulence jokes, the warmth, originality, humor, and unflagging imagination of Up feel as welcome as rain in a desert. Carl Fredericksen (voice by Ed Asner) ranks among the most unlikely heroes in recent animation history. A 78-year-old curmudgeon, he enjoyed his modest life as a balloon seller because he shared it with his adventurous wife Ellie (Ellie Docter). But she died, leaving him with memories and the awareness that they never made their dream journey to Paradise Falls in South America. When well-meaning officials consign Carl to Shady Oaks Retirement Home, he rigs thousands of helium balloons to his house and floats to South America. The journey's scarcely begun when he discovers a stowaway: Russell (Jordan Nagai), a chubby, maladroit Wilderness Explorer Scout who's out to earn his Elderly Assistance Badge. In the tropical jungle, Carl and Russell find more than they bargained for: Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), a crazed explorer whose newsreels once inspired Carl and Ellie; Kevin, an exotic bird with a weakness for chocolate; and Dug (Bob Peterson), an endearingly dim golden retriever fitted with a voice box. More importantly, the travelers discover they need each other: Russell needs a (grand)father figure; Carl needs someone to enliven his life without Ellie. Together, they learn that sharing ice-cream cones and counting the passing cars can be more meaningful than feats of daring-do and distant horizons. Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) and Bob Peterson direct the film with consummate skill and taste, allowing the poignant moments to unfold without dialogue to Michael Giacchnio's vibrant score. Building on their work in The Incredibles and Ratatouille, the Pixar crew offers nuanced animation of the stylized characters. Even by Pixar's elevated standards, Up is an exceptional film that will appeal of audiences of all ages. Rated PG for some peril and action. --Charles Solomon

Grand Theft Auto : Episodes from Liberty City (PS3) - Take 2 Interactive

Manufacturer's Description
The Lost and Damned is a dark trip through Liberty City’s seedy underbelly as outlaw biker, Johnny Klebitz, fights to keep his gang together as a rift in the gang’s leadership threatens to tear the brotherhood apart. In The Ballad of Gay Tony, players explore Liberty City’s high-end nightlife as Luis Lopez, struggling to balance the temptations of money and vice against loyalties to family and friends. Both episodes feature a slew of new vehicles and weapons, and each episode adds new activities including cage fighting, gang wars and BASE jumping.

New Moon: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (Twilight) (Paperback) - Mark Cotta Vaz

Product Description
Academy Award-nominated director Chris Weitz and his creative team have brought the second book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire romance saga to the big screen. Inside this deluxe visual companion, get an intimate look at the creation of the film. With lavish, never-before-seen full-colour photographs, exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, and answers to questions about costume and set design, bestselling author Mark Cotta Vaz gives a special behind-the-scenes tour of the film millions have devoured. Inside you'll get a glimpse into the director's aesthetic inspiration, learn the secrets behind some of the film's most intense stunts, and learn just how a person can become a werewolf.

About the Author
Mark Cotta Vaz is the author of over twenty-one books, including four New York Times bestsellers. His recent works include Mythic Vision: The Making of Eragon, The Spirit: The Movie Visual Companion, and his biography, Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, Creator of King Kong¸which was a Los Angeles Times bestseller.

Alone in Berlin (Penguin Modern Classics) (Paperback) - Hans Fallada

Product Description
Berlin, 1940, and the city is filled with fear. At the house on 55 Jablonski Strasse, its various occupants try to live under Nazi rule in their different ways: the bullying Hitler loyalists the Persickes, the retired judge Fromm and the unassuming couple Otto and Anna Quangel. Then the Quangels receive the news that their beloved son has been killed fighting in France. Shocked out of their quiet existence, they begin a silent campaign of defiance, and a deadly game of cat and mouse develops between the Quangels and the ambitious Gestapo inspector Escherich. When petty criminals Kluge and Borkhausen also become involved, deception, betrayal and murder ensue, tightening the noose around the Quangels’ necks …

About the Author
Hans Fallada was one of the best-known German writers of the twentieth century. Born in 1893 in Greifswald as Rudolf Wilhelm Adolf Ditzen, he took his pen name from a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. His most famous works include the novels Little Man, What Now? and The Drinker. Fallada died from an overdose of morphine on 5 February 1947 in Berlin. Michael Hofmann is the author of several books of poems and a book of criticism, Behind the Lines, and the translator of many modern and contemporary authors. Penguin publish his translations of Kafka’s Metamorphosis and Other Stories and Irmgard Keun’s Child of All Nations.

Cutting for Stone (Paperback) - Abraham Verghese

Product Description
Marion and Shiva Stone, born in a mission hospital in Ethiopia in the 1950s, are twin sons of an illicit union between an Indian nun and British doctor. Bound by birth but with widely different temperaments they grow up together, in a country on the brink of revolution, until a betrayal splits them apart. But fate has not finished with them - they will be brought together once more, in the sterile surroundings of a hospital theatre. From the 1940s to the present, from a convent in India to a cargo ship bound for the Yemen, from a tiny operating theatre in Ethiopia to a hospital in the Bronx, this is both a richly visceral epic and a riveting family story.

From the Inside Flap
Transporting the reader from the 1940s to the present, from a convent in India to a cargo ship bound for the Yemen, from a tiny operating theatre in Ethiopia to a hospital in the Bronx, Cutting for Stone is a thrilling epic of conjoined twins, doctors and patients, temptation and redemption, home and exile – and a riveting family story, irresistibly charged with strange happenings, humour and pathos, that grabs you from its harrowing opening and never lets go.

Marion and Shiva Stone, half-Indian and half-British, are twin sons of a secret union at ‘Missing’, a hospital run by nuns in Addis Ababa. Born in extraordinary circumstances, the brothers couldn’t be more different – Marion, introspective and eager to please, Shiva, a loner with fewer scruples and a photographic memory – but are bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared passion for medicine, and cricket. They come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. The Italians have left behind in Addis cappuccino machines and Campari umbrellas. But they've also left a nation crippled by poverty, hunger, and authoritarian rule: Ethiopia in the 1960s and 1970s is both bolstered and trapped by its emperor, Haile Selassie. Yet it will be love, not politics – their passion for the same woman – that tears the twins apart and forces Marion to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as a surgical intern at an underfunded, overcrowded hospital.When the past catches up with him, in a stunning twist, Marion must trust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world.

Cutting for Stone is both an unforgettable story of lives cut in half and a gripping evocation of the power, intimacy, danger and curious beauty of the art of medicine. A masterly debut novel, it is visceral in its power, heartbreaking in its tenderness.

About the Author
Born and brought up of Indian parents in Ethiopia, Abraham Verghese qualified as a doctor in Madras and is currently professor of medicine at Stanford University, California. He is the author of My Own Country, an NBCC finalist made into a film directed by Mira Nair, and The Tennis Partner, a New York Times Notable Book. His essays and stories have appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Granta, New York Times Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. He lives in Palo Alto, California.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

LEGO Creator 628 Xlarge Grey Baseplate

Manufacturer's Description
This grey baseplate measures 15" x 15" (38cm x 38cm), so it's a great place to start building castles, skyscrapers, or what ever your imagination can come up with.

Glee: The Music, Volume 1 [Soundtrack] - Glee Cast

CD Description
This US TV show has become both a total sensation since airing first airing in 2009. With a unique mix of twisted humour, a cast of diverse characters, a fantastic genre defying soundtrack and bursting with show-stopping musical numbers with a plot that defies any usual rules, “Glee” is a delight. The songs covered in the show are eclectic, with the cast performing songs by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, Rhianna, Queen, Salt’n’Pepa, Heart and even tracks from "Cabaret" and "Wicked".

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy : Complete BBC Series [1979] [DVD]

Amazon.co.uk Review
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy stars Alec Guinness as George Smiley, John Le Carré's familiar, ageing British Intelligence agent, called out of retirement to discover the identity of the high-ranking Russian mole who has burrowed deep into "The Circus"--codename for the British secret service. This slow-burning, complicated and ultimately rewarding BBC adaptation, dramatised by Arthur Hopcroft and directed by John Irvin, perfectly captures Le Carré's own insight into the shady underworld of spies and the political climate during the Cold War.

Le Carré's style is the antithesis of his contemporary Ian Fleming's--far from the glamorous lifestyle of Bond, with his fast cars and faster women, these agents ride around in Skodas, and Beryl Reid is the closest thing to a femme fatale, save for Smiley's elusive wife, Anne. An extraordinary cast (including Ian Bannen, Hywel Bennett and Ian Richardson), gritty realism and close attention to detail make Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy an outstanding piece of television drama. --Nicola Perry

Edge Of Darkness - The Complete Series [1985] [DVD]

Amazon.co.uk Review
Edge of Darkness (1985) begins routinely enough. Emma Craven (Joanne Whalley in her first staring role, a year before The Singing Detective in 1986) is a young environmental activist killed in mysterious circumstances. Emma's father, Ron Craven, (Bob Peck in a star-making performance) will not be silenced and, as a police detective, is uniquely positioned to pursue his own unofficial investigation. He moves from grief to a determination to find the truth, all the while advised and/or comforted by Emma, but is she a ghost or a manifestation of his haunted psyche? Craven digs deeper, uncovering labyrinthine conspiracy in the nuclear industry and, as the body-count rises, encounters the garrulous CIA agent Darius Jedburgh (a superb Joe Don Baker) with a mysterious agenda of his own. Accompanied by a haunting musical score by Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton, Edge of Darkness builds on the legacy of Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy and Smiley's People to become quite simply the best television thriller ever. Originally shown in six, 50-minute episodes, this tape presents the first half of the groundbreaking environmental-espionage shocker, tightening the ratchets of suspense to levels which would have turned Hitchcock himself green ... with envy. --Gary S. Dalkin

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 [PS3] - Electronic Arts

Manufacturer's Description
Get ready for the most spectacular FPS multiplayer experience ever! Battlefield Bad Company 2 brings the spectacular Battlefield gameplay to the forefront of next-gen consoles and PC - featuring best-in-class vehicular combat set across 8 huge sandbox maps each with a different tactical focus. New vehicles like the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and the UH-60 transport helicopter allow for all-new multiplayer tactics in the warzone, extensive tuning ensures that this will be the most satisfying vehicle combat experience to date. Tactical destruction is taken to new heights with the updated DICE ‘Frostbite’ engine. Players can now take down entire buildings or create their own fire points by blasting holes through cover, thereby delivering a unique experience in every match

Players can also compete in 4-player teams in 2 exclusive squad-only game modes, fighting together to unlock exclusive team awards and achievements. Spawn on your squad to get straight into the action, and use gadgets such as the tracer dart in-conjunction with the RPG to devastating effect. Excellence in the battlefield is rewarded with an extensive range of pins, insignias and stars to unlock along with 50 dedicated ranks to achieve. Variety also extends into the range of customisable kits weapons and vehicles available. With 4 distinct character classes, 46 weapons, 15 gadgets, 13 character specializations and over 15000 kit variations to discover and master players will be able to fine-tune their preferred fighting style to give them the edge in combat.

All of these features combine to deliver spectacular and unpredictable action moments found nowhere else in the genre. Battlefield Bad Company 2 is all-out multiplayer warfare at its absolute finest!

The modern battlefield is evolving and once again "B" Company are caught on the front line. Already one of the most popular online shooters ever, this latest game adds greater variety and greater destruction than ever seen before.
For the first time you will be able to raze buildings to the ground, with almost every object on the map being completely destructible. It's not just the scenery that takes damage more realistically though, as this is the first Battlefield game since Vietnam to feature blood wounds.

Despite all the new vehicles, weapons and specialist equipment though the game is more accessible than ever with preset equipment kits that let you choose a basic style of play (assault, engineer, recon or medic) and immediately get started. With an improved single player and story mode too this is ready to take its place as one of the definitive online shooters of modern times.

Dark Tower: The Fall Of Gilead Premiere HC (Dark Tower (Marvel)) (Hardcover) - Robin Furth

Product Description
A horrified Steven Deschain learns that the deadly seeing sphere called Maerlyn's Grapefruit has been stolen from his chambers! Far worse, when he enters his wife's room to arrest her for the theft, his son Roland is standing over her body with a gun in his hand. The youngest gunslinger has perhaps committed the most hideous crime of all! Continuing the epic saga based on the best-selling Dark Tower novels by the master Stephen King. Collects Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead #1-6, and Sorcerer.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Paperback) - Rick Riordan

Product Description
Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. That's when things started really going wrong. Now I spend my time fighting with swords, battling monsters with my friends, and generally trying to stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea. Can Percy find the lightning bolt before a fully-fledged war of the Gods erupts?

About the Author
Rick Riordan is an award-winning mystery writer. For the past fifteen years he has taught at middle schools in the San Francisco Bay area and in Texas. Rick lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and two sons.

The Pregnant Widow (Hardcover) - Martin Amis

Product Description
It was summer 1970 - a long, hot summer. In a castle in Italy, half a dozen young lives are afloat on the sea of change, trapped inside the history of the sexual revolution. The girls are acting like boys, and the boys are going on acting like boys, and Keith Nearing - twenty years old, a literature student all clogged up with the English novel - is struggling to twist feminism and the rise of women towards his own ends. The sexual revolution may have been a velvet revolution (in at least two senses), but it wasn't bloodless - and now, in the twenty-first century, the year 1970 finally catches up with Keith Nearing. "The Pregnant Widow" is a comedy of manners and a nightmare, brilliant, haunting and gloriously risque. It is the most eagerly anticipated novel of the year and Martin Amis at his fearless best.

About the Author
Martin Amis is the author of ten novels, the memoir Experience, two collections of stories and six collections of non-fiction, most recently The Second Plane. He lives in London.

Sweet Little Lies: An LA Candy Novel (Hardcover) - Lauren Conrad

Product Description
In TV star Lauren Conrad's deliciously entertaining novel about young Hollywood, the lies are only as sweet as the people telling them. Jane Roberts was the average girl next door until she and her best friend Scarlett Harp landed their own reality show, L.A. Candy. Suddenly they found themselves thrown into the public eye with VIP tickets to everything. But the starlets quickly discover that fame goes hand in hand with scandal when Jane finds herself the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. Even her relationship with Scarlett is threatened. Things go from bad to worse when Scarlett falls for a guy who is strictly off limits! In reality TV nothing stays secret for long and with all this drama L.A Candy's ratings rocket. The show is a bona fide hit - but can the girls stand another season in the spotlight?

About the Author
Lauren Conrad is best known for starring in MTV's #1 show, The Hills. She has been featured on the covers of Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, Seventeen and Entertainment Weekly, among others. Her first novel, L.A Candy was a huge bestseller. She lives in Los Angeles.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Sea [Digipak] [CD] - Corinne Bailey Rae

CD Description
Returning after a two year hiatus, English singer-songwriter Corrine Bailey Rae's second album, 'The Sea', is definitely a progression from her debut. The album is intensely emotional, and often deals with the death of Rae's husband, who died in early 2008. 'The Sea' mixes jazz and rock influences in equal measure, being compared to the work of artists as varied as Marvin Gaye and Joni Mitchell, and includes the single 'I'd Do It All Again'.

The Hurt Locker [DVD] [2008]

Amazon.co.uk Review
Rightly attracting major awards attention, The Hurt Locker is a supreme, tense and gripping piece of drama. And it grabs your attention from the stunning opening scene, which perfectly gets across the dangers faced by the specialist bomb disposal squad that we spend the rest of the film following.

Chief among them is Jeremy Renner’s Sergeant William James, who is the focal point for much of The Hurt Locker. The film spends some time digging into his head and why he does what he does, and his approach doesn’t always leave him eye-to-eye with the rest of his squad. Renner, in surely a star-making performance, delivers a rounded, three-dimensional portrayal of a man you could easily write off as a maverick, and the film is significantly enriched as a result.

But then with director Kathryn Bigelow behind the camera delivering her best film to date, The Hurt Locker excels still further. Her gritty, haunting visuals look superb in high definition too, evoking the down-to-earth shooting style Bigelow employs, and making the most of the assorted set-pieces she puts on film. It’s the sound that really gets you too, cleverly eating up the full breadth of a good surround-sound set-up, and carefully teasing you more and more into the film.

Not that you’re likely to need much persuading. The Hurt Locker is a terrific war movie, and a very human one. It’s also packaged on a quality Blu-ray that matches up strong presentation with interesting extra feature. It comes very highly recommended. --Jon Foster
Synopsis
Based on the personal wartime experiences of journalist Mark Boal (who adapted his experiences with a bomb squad into a fact-based, yet fictional story), director Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq War-set action thriller THE HURT LOCKER presents the conflict in the Middle East from the perspective of those who witnessed the fighting firsthand -- the soldiers. As an elite Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team tactfully navigates the streets of present-day Iraq, they face the constant threat of death from incoming bombs and sharp-shooting snipers. In Baghdad, roadside bombs are a common danger. The Army is working to make the city a safer place for Americans and Iraqis, so when it comes to dismantling IEDs (improvised explosive devices) the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) crew is always on their game. But protecting the public isn't easy when there's no margin of error, and every second spend dismantling a bomb is another second spent flirting with death. Now, as three fearless bomb technicians take on the most dangerous job in Baghdad, it's only a matter of time before one of them gets sent to 'the hurt locker'. Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce, and Ralph Finnes star.

God of War 3 (PS3) - Sony

Manufacturer's Description
Developed exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3 system, God of War III is the final instalment of the multi-million unit-selling trilogy. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica Studios, God of War III will bring epic battles to life with stunning graphics and an elaborate plot that puts Kratos at the centre of carnage and destruction as he seeks revenge against the Gods who have betrayed him.

Set in the realm of brutal Greek mythology, God of War III is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he scales through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, and an array of new weapons and magic for this iteration of the trilogy, Kratos must take on mythology's darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.

With texture resolutions quadrupling since God of War II on PlayStation 2, God of War III, in its debut on the PS3 system, will feature fluid, life-like characters, as well as dynamic lighting effects, a robust weapon system, and world-changing scenarios that will truly bring unmistakable realism to Kratos' fateful quest. Players will have a chance to join battles on a grand scale that is four times larger than its predecessor.

God of War III is a single player action game, exclusive to the PlayStation 3, and the final installment of the God of War trilogy. Containing signature and addictive God of War gameplay — a combination of over-the-top action combat, exploration and puzzle-solving — along with an engrossing mythologically inspired storyline and a selection of new weapons and a new weapons system, it is a fitting conclusion to the much praised God of War franchise.

Story and Gameplay
God of War III allows players on the PlayStation 3 to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he treads through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hades once more to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, as well a selection of new weapons, Kratos must take on mythology's darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus and the mighty Zeus himself.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Paperback) - Mary Ann Shaffer

Product Description
It's 1946 and author Juliet Ashton can't think what to write next. Out of the blue, she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - by chance, he's acquired a book that once belonged to her - and, spurred on by their mutual love of reading, they begin a correspondence. When Dawsey reveals that he is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, her curiosity is piqued and it's not long before she begins to hear from other members. As letters fly back and forth with stories of life in Guernsey under the German Occupation, Juliet soon realizes that the society is every bit as extraordinary as its name.
About the Author
MARY ANN SHAFFER was born in 1934 in Martinsburg, West Virginia. She worked as an editor, a librarian and in bookshops. She became interested in Guernsey while visiting London in 1976. On a whim, she decided to fly to Guernsey but became stranded there as a heavy fog descended and no boats or planes were permitted to leave the island. As she waited for the fog to clear, she came across a book called Jersey Under the Jack-Boot, and so her fascination with the Channel Isles began. Many years later, when goaded by her own literary club to write a book, Mary Ann naturally thought of Guernsey. Mary Ann died in February 2008. She knew that this, her only novel, was to be published in thirteen countries. Before she died she wrote, 'I must tender special thanks to my niece, Annie, who stepped in to finish this book after unexpected health issues interrupted my ability to work shortly after the manuscript was sold. Without blinking an eye, she put down the book she was writing, pushed up her sleeves, and set to work on my manuscript. It was my great good luck to have a writer like her in the family, and this book could not have been done without her.' ANNIE BARROWS is the author of the Ivy and Bean series for children, as well as The Magic Half.

Monday, February 15, 2010

LEGO Star Wars 8084 Snowtrooper Battle Pack

Product Description
Build up your Imperial forces and celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back! When the Rebels' secret base is discovered on Hoth, the Empire attacks with a force of cold-weather Snowtroopers. Includes battle station with flick-firing missiles, Imperial Speeder Bike, 2 Snowtroopers, AT-AT Driver and Imperial Officer. Includes battle station, Imperial Speeder Bike, 2 Snowtroopers, AT-AT Driver and Imperial Officer! Battle station armed with rotating flick missile firing gun! Speeder bike measures over 5'' (12cm) long! Battle Station measures over 3'' (10cm) long! 6 Years +

Heligoland - Massive Attack

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's been seven years since we heard anything from Bristol trip-hop afficionados Massive Attack. Their last outing was (for many) the underwhelming 100th Window, an album created mainly by Robert del Naja (aka 3D), as his partner-in-rhyme Daddy G was on hiatus being, well, a daddy. From the potent, claustrophobic opening track "Pray For Rain"--all tribal drums, bleak atmospheres and the contrastive rich vocals of TV On The Radio's Tumbe Adebimpe--it's clear that Heligoland is a bid for former glories. As the record unfurls through the angular, choppy post-punk of "Babel" (with Martina Topley-Bird), the lurching "Splitting The Atom" (featuring the familiar falsetto of regular Massive Attack vocalist Horace Andy) and the pounding, bass-heavy "Girl I Love You", the feeling grows that this is their strongest work since 1998’s Mezzanine. Unlike that album, the band make regular diversions here into dissonance, especially on "Flat Of The Blade", a wonky parade of bleeps and glitches matched to vocals from Elbow's Guy Garvey. But there are lighter moments too, such as the relatively weightless "Psyche" (again with Topley-Bird), the sparse "Paradise Circus" (featuring the feathery voice of Hope Sandoval) and the plaintive "Saturday Come Slow", with vocals by Damon Albarn. It might not be a Blue Lines II, but Heligoland’s thick production, superb guest performances and dense, stoned atmospheres make it exactly the stellar return to form they obviously aimed for. --Danny McKenna
CD Description
Massive Attack are a seminal group of musical innovators whose early work detonated the Bristol music scene of the early 90's and unwittingly gave birth to "trip-hop". The group formed in 1987 around their influential and legendary Dug Out club and Jamaican-style soundsystem, playing a blend of hip hop, new wave reggae, early house and techno which shaped their acclaimed 1991 debut, Blue Lines. Mezzanine, their third album released in 1998 proved to be a creative and commercial peak selling in excess of three million albums.

Four years after the release of their best of album Collected and seven years since their last studio album 100th Window, Massive Attack return with their fifth studio album. Heligoland features original band members Daddy G and 3D, long time cohort Horace Andy and guest vocals from Damon Albarn, Hope Sandoval, Martina Topley-Bird, Guy Garvey and Tunde Adebimpe.

The Ugly Truth [DVD] [2009]

Amazon.co.uk Review
Katherine Heigl further cements her reputation as one of film's most dazzling, and go-to, romantic comedy heroines. In The Ugly Truth she brings her deft comic timing and true vulnerability to a film that avoids clichés, successfully, all the way until the surprising, quiet end. Heigl's partner in crime--and at first, in pure hatred--is the rakishly charming Gerard Butler. Heigl plays Abby, a career-bound TV producer, and Butler is Mike, an outrageous dude's dude whose public access show about what men want (one thing only) makes him so popular that he's hired to work alongside Abby, who naturally chafes at everything Mike stands for. Yet The Ugly Truth could not be more unpredictable, and men as well as women will like the refreshing story line and the crisp direction by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law). Both lead actors put their all into their performances, and the nuance and depth makes The Ugly Truth not just a great date-night film, but a testament on the primal human urge simply to connect. The Ugly Truth is more than a little raunchy, and it deserves its 15 rating, but there's hilarity in its crudeness. The supporting cast includes the delightful Cheryl Hines and John Michael Higgins as a tensely married couple forced to appear together on TV. And Eric Winter (Brothers & Sisters) is dreamy as Abby's potential love-match--as long as she doesn't have to be herself. The DVD includes mostly forgettable deleted and extended scenes, but also a gag reel that shows that the cast had every bit as much fun creating the film as the viewer has watching it. The Ugly Truth has never shined so brightly. --A.T. Hurley

Aliens Vs Predator - Sega

Product Description
Developed at Rebellion by the team responsible for the original 1999 classic, in the all-new Aliens vs. Predator players have the chance to take the role of the three infamous species; the Colonial Marine, the Predator and the Alien.

Each of the three species has its very own distinct story-driven single-player campaign mode that interweaves with the campaigns of the other two species. Aliens vs. Predator will also feature unique 3-way online multiplayer, allowing gamers to pit the three species against each other in the ultimate battle for survival and for the right to be crowned the deadliest species.

On planet BG-386 a colonist mining group discovers an ancient pyramid containing a dark and horrible secret. Across the stars a race of warriors is alerted to the discovery of their pyramid and a hunting party is dispatched to ensure that it remains sealed at all costs, whilst deep inside the ruined pyramid a malevolent intelligence awakes from centuries of dormancy.

The Marine’s story is an incredible fight against the odds, and the horrors lurking in the dark. Beset on all sides yet armed to the teeth, the Colonial Marine represents humanity’s last stand with the firepower to fight back.

As the Alien, players will discover what it’s like to be the most murderous and lethal creature in the universe, with the ability to traverse any surface with awesome agility in order to get close enough to unleash its deadly teeth and claws.

A master of the hunt, the Predator grants the player a suite of exotic weaponry and equipment with which to stalk its unknowing prey. Earn the greatest honour by ambushing prey up-close and butchering them for a gory trophy kill.

In the all-new Aliens vs. Predator players will have the chance to take the role of the three infamous species; the Colonial Marine, the Predator and the Alien. Each of the three species has its very own distinct story-driven single-player campaign mode.

The Boys Volume 5: Herogasm (Paperback) - Garth Ennis

Product Description
An evil so profound it threatens all mankind! The mightiest heroes on the planet uniting to defend us all! A secret crisis of such utter finality that a countdown to civil or infinite war seems unavoidable! The Seven, Payback, Teenage Kix, Fantastico, and every other super on Earth team-up for an annual event like no other. Where they go, can a certain "five complications and a dog" be far behind?
About the Author
Garth Ennis is the award-winning writer of Preacher, Hellblazer, Hitman and Judge Dredd. Much in demand for his hard-edged, wickedly humorous style, he is now writing a new Authority: Kev series for DC/WildStorm, as well as Marvel's Punisher. Darick Robertson is the critically acclaimed artist and co-creator of Transmetropolitan.

One Day (Paperback) - David Nicholls

'It's rare to find a novel which ranges over the recent past with such authority, and even rarer to find one in which the two leading characters are drawn with such solidity, such painful fidelity, to real life that you really do put the book down with the hallucinatory feeling that they've become as well known to you as your closest friends. Hard to imagine anyone encountering characters as well drawn as this and not recognizing the extraordinary talent of the writer who has created them.' (Jonathan Coe Guardian Books of the Year 20090621)

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Monogamy - Creative Conceptions

Monogamy – A Hot Affair…With Your Partner!
Recently awarded adult board game of the year ‘Monogamy’ offers the promise of "A Hot Affair ... With Your Partner". ‘Monogamy’ will provide many a great evening at home with the one you love. Explore new experiences together, have fun and take each other on a sexual adventure.

This hot relationship game is a fun way to improve communication between couples and allow them to try new and exciting intimate actions. After the first few years of romance, couples tend to find that naughty lingerie and nights exploring each other's erogenous zones can be forgotten and replaced by arguments over whose turn it is to put the bin out or buy the frozen peas. Neither of you need to be the instigator as ‘Monogamy’ will guide you through bringing back the art of seduction, laughter and lust. It really does lead to the exciting feeling that you are having an affair... but with your own partner! The game is very adaptable as it can be played on a number of different levels, depending on how you both feel. If you just feel like a romantic and fun night, you can play with the first two levels; if you are both feeling horny, just shuffle the fantasy cards and go for it! With over 400 ideas at three progressive levels and fifty fantasies, the game can be enjoyed over and over again!

Monogamy gives many, a great evening at home with the one you love! Explore new experiences together, have fun and take each other on a sexual adventure. Described by players as "addictive" and a beautiful well thought out game.Turn the lights down low. take the phone off the hook and get ready for some truly passionate encounters. play Monogamy and your relationship will never be the same again.It all begins with a loving gaze into each other's eyes. the last to blink throws the dice to start the game. As you progress around the board the questions become more intimate and the challenges more steamy, opening up sexy, wild and sometimes deep conversations.The perfect beginning to an affair&.with your partner! Whatever level you play Monogamy, you'll be laughing one minute and lusting after each other the next. The game climaxes with the winner choosing to make real one of 50 breathtaking fantasies but then, there are no losers in Monogamy.

Soldier of Love - Sade

Soldier Of Love is Sade’s first official studio album since the multi-platinum release of Lovers Rock in 2000.

# Audio CD (8 Feb 2010)
# Number of Discs: 1
# Label: Sony Music
# ASIN: B002YIGI52

Track Listings
1. The Moon and the Sky
2. Soldier of Love
3. Morning Bird
4. Babyfather
5. Long Hard Road
6. Be That Easy
7. Bring Me Home
8. In Another Time
9. Skin
10. The Safest Place

Up (1 Disc) [DVD] [2009]

Amazon.co.uk Review
At a time when too many animated films consist of anthropomorphized animals cracking sitcom one-liners and flatulence jokes, the warmth, originality, humor, and unflagging imagination of Up feel as welcome as rain in a desert. Carl Fredericksen (voice by Ed Asner) ranks among the most unlikely heroes in recent animation history. A 78-year-old curmudgeon, he enjoyed his modest life as a balloon seller because he shared it with his adventurous wife Ellie (Ellie Docter). But she died, leaving him with memories and the awareness that they never made their dream journey to Paradise Falls in South America. When well-meaning officials consign Carl to Shady Oaks Retirement Home, he rigs thousands of helium balloons to his house and floats to South America. The journey's scarcely begun when he discovers a stowaway: Russell (Jordan Nagai), a chubby, maladroit Wilderness Explorer Scout who's out to earn his Elderly Assistance Badge. In the tropical jungle, Carl and Russell find more than they bargained for: Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), a crazed explorer whose newsreels once inspired Carl and Ellie; Kevin, an exotic bird with a weakness for chocolate; and Dug (Bob Peterson), an endearingly dim golden retriever fitted with a voice box. More importantly, the travelers discover they need each other: Russell needs a (grand)father figure; Carl needs someone to enliven his life without Ellie. Together, they learn that sharing ice-cream cones and counting the passing cars can be more meaningful than feats of daring-do and distant horizons. Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) and Bob Peterson direct the film with consummate skill and taste, allowing the poignant moments to unfold without dialogue to Michael Giacchnio's vibrant score. Building on their work in The Incredibles and Ratatouille, the Pixar crew offers nuanced animation of the stylized characters. Even by Pixar's elevated standards, Up is an exceptional film that will appeal of audiences of all ages. Rated PG for some peril and action. --Charles Solomon

Monster Hunter Tri (Wii) - Capcom

Monster Hunter Tri allows Western Wii owners to join the hunt for the first time, as one of Capcom’s leading franchises makes its debut on the system.

Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where man co-exists with the fantastic beasts that roam both the dry land and the brand new sub-aqua environment - a first for the series.

With an expansive story mode, Monster Hunter Tri sees players taking on the role of a hunter, who is tasked by the Village Chief to investigate the constant earthquakes that threaten the everyday life of Moga village. Players will hunt monsters that range from small annoyances to towering terrors in a bid to restore peace and tranquility.

A bustling and vibrant town, Moga is home to the hunter and includes a Blacksmith for forging weapons and armor, a shop where items can be purchased and an expanded farm with cat-like Felynes acting as laborers and tending the crops.

The incentive to complete quests is now no longer limited to the collection of items and money with which the hunter can create or upgrade armor and weapons. Successful hunts have a real and visible impact on the status of Moga Village as on returning home quest items are used to repair damage caused by the earthquakes resulting in happier and more active villagers.

Living the life of a hunter need never be a solitary experience with the option of split-screen mode where two players can hunt co-operatively on select quests or form a team of up to four hunters via the game’s custom online Wi-Fi mode. Even solo players do not have to face Monster Hunter Tri’s challenging quests alone as they will be accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI computer driven hunting partner whose skills will prove invaluable.

Complementing the new creatures and quests that Monster Hunter Tri introduces to the series, hunters will also have the benefit of new weapons, armor sets and items. These include an all new weapon class, the Switch Axe and a Torch that not only illuminates the darkest caves but will fend off certain creatures to assist them as they embark on the most epic Monster Hunter adventure to date.

Believe - Katherine Jenkins

'Believe' is the seventh album by Welsh cross-over opera superstar Katherine Jenkins. Renowned for her heavenly and original interpretations of opera and pop standards, this effort is produced by David Foster (Josh Groban, Michael Buble) and sees the songstress take a more mature and bold approach for this release. Covering more contemporary tracks such as Evanescence's 'Bring Me To Life' and Sarah Maclachlan's 'Angel', shows off Jenkins' versatility and talent as an artist.Includes the title track featuring Andrea Bocelli.

The Intimate Adventures Of A London Call Girl (Paperback) - Belle de Jour

Review
'this is a no-holds-barred account of the high-class sex trade, and an insight into the secret life of an extraordinary woman.' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (11.9.05) 'Belle is wickedly witty and you'll pick up a kinky trick or three on the way.' COSMOPOLITAN (October) **** 'Belle's tamer anecdotes would make Graham Norton choke. But it does possess a raw emotional intimacy, which is surprising given that it started off as an internet blog...it is Belle's portrayal of city-life alienation that is so candid.' -- Isobel Shirlaw TELEGRAPH (24.9.05) 'Insight into life as a high-class hooker. Shocking but funny.' HEAT (1-7 October) **** 'A good diarist draws you in through intrigue or through empathy. Belle does both...Everyday middle-class London is caught with its trousers down.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE (1.1.06)

The Return: Nightfall (The Vampire Diaries) (Paperback) - L J Smith

Product Description
Elena Gilbert is alive - again.
When Elena sacrificed herself to save the two vampire brothers who love her she was consigned to a fate beyond death. Until a powerful supernatural force pulled her back.
Now Elena is not just human. She has powers. What's more, her blood pulses with a unique force that makes her irresistible to any vampire.
Both brothers still want Elena to be theirs, but something bigger and more powerful than all of them may want her more...
About the Author

L J Smith is the globally best-selling author of more than 20 books for young adults, including the cult phenomenon the Night World sequence. Since childhood she has been fascinated by the night and the way the ordinary world changes when darkness falls. She lives in Northern California in a rambling house in a small town.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Bananagrams

Product Features

* Bananagrams is a word game without the need for a board, pencil or paper
* Perfect gift for crossword and word game lovers
* The Bananagram pouch measures approx 6 cm x 21 cm x 6 cm and has a zip
* The plastic tiles measure approx 2 cm x 2 cm each
* One hand can be played in as little as five minutes

Toy Safety
Manufacturer's minimum age: 5 years

Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a table. One hand can be played in as little as five minutes. It is great for family fun as well as being educational. Bananagrams' portability makes it perfect for travel. Just grab the pouch and go.

Charity Single For The Haiti Earthquake Appeal "Everybody Hurts" [Single] [Maxi]

Some of the biggest names in UK and American music have joined forces to record an emotive cover of the REM classic “Everybody Hurts”, to raise money for charities supporting the relief efforts in Haiti. The line up of featured artists is; Mariah Carey, Jon Bon Jovi, Robbie Williams, Kylie, Rod Stewart, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Miley Cyrus, Take That, Joe McElderry, Cheryl Cole, JLS, Mika, Michael Bublé, James Blunt, James Morrison, Susan Boyle, and Westlife.

Fireflies - Owl City

# Original Release Date: 8 Jan 2010
# Release Date: 8 Jan 2010
# Label: Universal-Island Records Ltd.
# Copyright: (C) 2009 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
# Duration: 3:14 minutes

The Time Traveler's Wife [DVD] [2009]

A Chicago librarian suffers from a rare genetic disorder that sends him hurtling through time whenever he is under extreme duress; despite the fact that he vanishes at inordinately frequent and lengthy intervals, he attempts to build a stable future with the beautiful young heiress he loves. Eric Bana (CHOPPER, MUNICH) and Rachel McAdams (SHERLOCK HOLMES, RED EYE) star in this dramatic fantasy, which is directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Robert Schwentke (FLIGHTPLAN) and based on the best-selling book by author Audrey Niffenegger.

Final Fantasy XIII - Square Enix

Take Part in a Gaming Experience that Sets New Standards – The first in the series developed for a simultaneous release on multiple high-definition consoles, FINAL FANTASY XIII pushes new boundaries in cinematic presentation, sound and gameplay.; Experience the Unity of Speed and Strategy with the Ultimate Active Time Battle system – The familiar system has evolved, granting players the freedom of executing numerous commands in a single turn with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Whether inputting singular commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or expending multiple slots at once to activate a devastating blow, it’s up to the players to respond effectively to the battle conditions at hand.; Adapt to the Ever-Changing Tide of Battle with Paradigms – A brand-new game mechanic enabling players to assign roles to their party members at any time during battle, shifting between combat paradigms. Consisting of various combinations of the game's six roles, ranging from Commando, the offensive specialist, to Medic, the quintessential healer, paradigms allow players to respond and adapt instantly to any given situation to turn the tide and seize victory.; Witness the Battle Scene Transform with an All-New Summon System – Introducing Gestalt Mode, a powerful dimension of the summon system that elevates the action to a whole new level. In Gestalt Mode, characters and their transformed Eidolons fight as one, dealing massive damage to enemies through simple button commands.; Delve into an Emotional Experience – An immersive storyline connects players to an intriguing cast of characters. Will they have the strength to confront their cursed fates, or will destiny prevail over all that they believe in?

From the creative minds behind FINAL FANTASY VII and FINAL FANTASY X comes the latest installment in the critically acclaimed series. As FINAL FANTASY VII was for PlayStation, and FINAL FANTASY X for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be the first numbered FINAL FANTASY title for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360, and will look to once again reestablish the series as the RPG brand. Players will follow Lightning, Snow, and the other heroes who are dealt a hand of fate by the god-like fal'Cie. Cursed and regarded as enemies of society, they have the world against them and nobody to rely on but each other. Will they find the strength within themselves to break free of their curse and determine their own fates, or will they succumb to this higher power? With a story that is sure to connect with players' hearts, diverse new characters from world-renowned creator and character designer Tetsuya Nomura, and exciting new gameplay features centered around an evolved Active Time Battle system, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be the pinnacle in gaming experiences.

Tenor - Rolando Villazon

On Tenor, world-renowned tenor Rolando Villazón showcases some of the leading arias, as popularised by operatic legends including The Three Tenors: Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras. The great arias on this album vary from sophisticated Handel, emotional operatic greats by Verdi and Puccini, through to 20th Century classics from Bernstein’s West Side Story and Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Bolt [DVD] [2008]

Amazon.co.uk Review
Ostensibly a funny animated film about a dog who thinks he has superpowers, Bolt is also a movie about friendship, perseverance, and the power of believing in oneself. Everyone knows that superheroes on television are not real, but TV star super dog Bolt (John Travolta) is a canine star who was carefully raised to believe that he really possesses superpowers. In true loyal canine style, Bolt is completely devoted to his human co-star Penny (Miley Cyrus). When Penny is captured by the evil Dr. Calico (Malcolm McDowell) in their latest television episode and Bolt gets accidentally let loose in the real world, he sets off on a journey to save her. Bolt is confounded when his super powers are suddenly ineffective, but inspiration strikes and Bolt quickly discovers the mysterious, power-stealing effects of Styrofoam packing peanuts. An encounter with alley cat Mittens (Susie Essman) gives Bolt some eye-opening lessons about being a real dog in the real world, while star-struck, ball-enclosed hamster Rhino (Mark Walton) revels in the opportunity to serve as Bolt's sidekick in the quest to rescue Penny. The trio traverses the United States from waffle house to waffle house on a hysterical quest to find Penny and prove that the relationship between Penny and Bolt is real. In the end, Bolt, Mittens, and Rhino learn that everyone is special in their own way and they discover the true power of believing in oneself and one's friends. Selected cinemas showed Bolt in 3-D, but the film is probably equally enjoyable in the traditional format. A fun film with a nice message and a huge dose of cute, Bolt is good entertainment for the entire family. --Tami Horiuchi

The Taking of Pelham 123 [DVD] [2009]

Amazon.co.uk Review
John Godey's 1973 novel The Taking of Pelham One Two Three boasts a suspense situation so surefire that even the directorial bad habits of Tony Scott can't ruin this latest movie version. Four armed men seize a New York City subway train, isolate one car, and threaten to start killing passengers if a ransom isn't paid within the hour. The ransom was a million dollars in the book and also in Joseph Sargent's solid 1974 movie, in which Robert Shaw played the mercenary leading the hostage takers and Walter Matthau was the growling transit cop trying to outsmart him. In 2009, the title has gone digital--The Taking of Pelham 123--and inflation has jumped the asking price to $10 million. Where Shaw's menace was steely, John Travolta opts for manic, and shamelessly has a blast in the master villain role. His adversary, cagily underplayed by Denzel Washington, has been upgraded in civil-service rank but also demoted on suspicion of taking a bribe. This colors the dynamics of the dialogue between Washington at his control-center console and Travolta on the motorman's microphone aboard the stalled train.

So far, so reasonably good. But the director's trademark tactics keep getting between, well, everything. From the get-go, the visuals are subjected to pointless and irritating stutter effects, speeding-up/slowing-down, gratuitous camera movement, and the interposition of dirt- or light-smeared panes of glass between the camera and people we'd appreciate a clear look at. The 1974 movie settled for one police car being wrecked as the ransom is rushed uptown; Scott requires multiple collisions, each the occasion for police cruisers taking Lethal Weapon-style flight. The hostages in the earlier film were wittily individuated, a multicultural group portrait of the city at that mid-'70s moment; the ones on Scott's train--and also Travolta's fellow perpetrators, including that wonderful character actor Luis Guzmán--barely register. On the upside, John Turturro and James Gandolfini shine as two guys who (like the actors themselves) are very good at their jobs—respectively playing a hostage negotiator and His Honour, the mayor. The screenplay by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River) strives intelligently, if formulaically, to add new dimensions to the main characters and to offer its own gloss on the current economic meltdown. --Richard T. Jameson

Charlie Cook's Favourite Book [Illustrated] (Paperback) - Julia Donaldson

Product Description

Charlie Cook is reading a book about a pirate captain, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading about a knight, who is reading about a frog . . . From kings and queens to aliens and ghosts, there's something for everyone in Charlie's amazing book! Entertaining and original – another winner from the best picture book team in the world.
About the Author

Julia Donaldson is one of the UK's most popular children's authors. In addition to the modern classic, THE GRUFFALO (0 333 71093 2), her most recent collaborations with Axel Scheffler include THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE (0 333 98224 X) and THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD (1 405 02046 6). Julia is also the author of the young fiction series, PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE, and is much in demand for her brilliant events for children at schools, libraries and literary festivals.

Monkey Puzzle [Illustrated] (Paperback) - Julia Donaldson

Product Description
Can Butterfly help Little Monkey find his mum? Yes, but only after a lot of trial and error as Butterfly misunderstands Monkey's descriptions and leads him to all kinds of unsuitable animals.

The Smartest Giant in Town [Illustrated] (Paperback) - Julia Donaldson

Product Description

George wished he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides it's time for a new look: smart trousers, smart shirt, stripy tie, shiny shoes. Now he’s the smartest giant in town . . . until he bumps into some animals who desperately need his help – and his clothes!
About the Author

Julia Donaldson’s many books for Macmillan include the best-selling THE GRUFFALO (0 333 71092 4), ROOM ON THE BROOM (0 333 90337 4) and MONKEY PUZZLE (0 333 90337 4), all illustrated by Axel Scheffler, and THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH (0 333 90337 4), illustrated by Joel Stewart. Julia is also much in demand for her brilliant events for children at schools, libraries and literary festivals.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Twilight - 1 Disc Edition [DVD] [2008]

Synopsis
TWILIGHT, based on the acclaimed novel by Stephenie Meyer, is the highly-anticipated movie of the ultimate forbidden love affair between a vampire and mortal. Boasting a whole host of bright young talent including Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Kristen Stewart (Into The Wild, What Just Happened) and Cam Gigandet (Never Back Down, The O.C.), the screenplay is written by Melissa Rosenberg (Step Up, The O.C.) and directed by the Award-winning filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke (Lords of Dogtown, Thirteen).

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) has always been a little bit different, never caring about fitting in with the trendy girls at her Phoenix high school. When her mother remarries and sends Bella to live with her father in the rainy little town of Forks, Washington, she doesn’t expect much of anything to change. Then she meets the mysterious and dazzlingly beautiful Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a boy unlike any she’s ever met. Intelligent and witty, he sees straight into her soul.

Soon, Bella and Edward are swept up in a passionate and decidedly unorthodox romance. Edward can run faster than a mountain lion, he can stop a moving car with his bare hands – and he hasn’t aged since 1918. Like all vampires, he’s immortal. But he doesn’t have fangs, and he doesn’t drink human blood, as Edward and his family are unique among vampires in their lifestyle choice. To Edward, Bella is that thing he has waited 90 years for – a soul mate. But the closer they get, the more Edward must struggle to resist the primal pull of her scent, which could send him into an uncontrollable frenzy. But what will they do when Laurent (Edi Gathegi) and James (Cam Gigandet), the Cullens’ mortal vampire enemies, come to town, looking for Bella?

Bioshock 2 - Take 2 Interactive

Amazon.co.uk Review
The original shocked the video gaming world by not only being a great first person shooter, but also an intelligent one. Now one of the greatest stories in interactive fiction is getting another chapter, with a sequel set ten years later.

You play the original Big Daddy - a more independently minded prototype to the giant deep sea divers from the first game. The undersea world of Rapture has been taken over by the mysterious Big Sister, who has begun to kidnap children from coastal cities around the world.

A much larger range of plasmid powers are now available, as well as more standard weapons and the Big Daddy's iconic rivet gun and drill. The game's real conflict is emotional though, as you are once again forced to make a decision between sacrificing Little Sisters or protecting them and making your task even harder. Bioshock 2 will make you think, and not just about tactics.
Key Features

* Atlas shrugged: The award-winning story-telling of Bioshock continues with a new hero and a new threat in the underwater dystopia of Rapture.
* Evolve yourself: New plasmids, including new dual-wielded attacks, let you unleash amazing powers but at the cost of your humanity.
* Cry Little Sister: As the first Big Daddy you are far faster than the other lumbering giants, but equipped with the same weapons and the ability to venture onto the ocean floor.
* Big boss: Defend yourself against the constant attacks of Big Sister by setting up traps and ambushes, but always making sure you have an escape route!
* Separate lives: For the first time Bioshock has its own multiplayer mode - featuring a completely different story and created by developer Digital Extremes (Unreal Tournament 2004).

About the Developer: 2K Marin
Although founded in 2007 specifically to create new, original games the first release from this Californian developer will be Bioshock 2. The studio is relatively small and designed to work with Take-Two's other developers, such as 2K Boston and 2K Australia in the case of Bioshock.
Product Description
The original shocked the video gaming world by not only being a great first person shooter, but also an intelligent one. Now one of the greatest stories in interactive fiction is getting another chapter, with a sequel set ten years later.

Bioshock 2 - Collectors Edition (Xbox 360) - Take 2 Interactive

Manufacturer's Description
Follow-up to BioShock, 2K Games' critically acclaimed and commercially successful 2007 release, BioShock 2 is a first-person shooter set in the fictional underwater city of Rapture. As in the original game, BioShock 2 features a blend of fast-paced action, exploration and puzzle-solving as players follow varying paths through the overarching storyline based on the decisions that they are forced to make at points in the game. In addition to a further fleshing out of the franchise's popular storyline, players can look forward to new characters, game mechanics, weapons, locations and a series first, multiplayer game options. Finally, bonus items included with the BioShock 2 Special Edition (see contents list below), provide the most complete BioShock 2 experience available and are destined to become collectors items.

The Story
Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster — somehow familiar, yet still quite different from anything ever seen — has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city. It is a Big Sister, new denizens of Rapture who were once one of the forgotten little girls known as Little Sisters, known to inhabit the city's dank halls. No longer a pawn used to harvest ADAM, the dangerously powerful gene-altering lifeblood of Rapture, from the bodies of others and in turn run the risk of being harvested herself, the Big Sister is now the fastest and most powerful thing in Rapture. You, on the other hand are the very first Big Daddy, in fact the prototype, that for some reason has reactivated. You are similar to the Big Daddies familiar from the original BioShock, but also very different in that you possess free will and no memory of the events of the past ten years. The question is, as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city beneath the waves, hunting for answers and the solution to your own survival, are you really the hunter, or the hunted?

Gameplay and Multiplayer
In BioShock 2 players will take on the role of the original Big Daddy, not that of game one protagonist, Jack. As a Big Daddy you will have access to all the strengths and weapons of a standard Big Daddy, including the drill and rivet gun. More importantly you also possess free will and the ability to use plasmids and gene tonics — genetic modifications allowed for through ADAM, a stem cell harvested from conquered enemies, or sea slugs outside the Rapture air lock, and powered by the in-game injectable serum known as EVE, which can be found, captured or purchased. Plasmids and gene tonics provide a wide range of aggressive and passive abilities which can be upgraded and arranged for quick use. The ability to use plasmids and tonics gives you a decided edge over other Big Daddies and most other denizens of Rapture, excluding the powerful Big Sisters. In addition, due to their role as a Big Daddy, players will experience a new relation to the Little Sisters. Upon defeating standard Big Daddys you are given the familiar choice as to whether to harvest or adopt them. Harvesting gains you ADAM immediately, but could alter your path through the game, while adopting makes you responsible for Little Sisters, who then accompany you through Rapture, but also provide aid and warning in times of danger. Additional gameplay features include: new plasmids, weapons and the ability to combine these two.

The game also features the anticipated multiplayer modes. Several of these are team-based, allowing up to 10 players. Within these players are provided with a rich prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction, and allows you to play as one of several characters pulled from Rapture's history before the events of the first game.

Worst Case: A Detective Michael Bennett Novel (Hardcover) - James Patterson

Product Description
The son of one of New York's wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage. His parents can't save him, because this kidnapper isn't demanding money. Instead, he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam, wrong answers are fatal. Detective Michael Bennett leads the investigation. With ten kids of his own, he can't begin to understand what could lead someone to target anyone's children. As another student disappears, one powerful family after another uses their leverage and connections to turn the heat up on the mayor, the press, anyone who will listen, to stop this killer. Their reach extends all the way to the FBI, who send their top Abduction Specialist, Agent Emily Parker. Bennett's work life - and love life - suddenly get even more complicated. Before Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI's intrusion on his case, the mastermind changes his routine. His plan leads up to the most devastating demonstration yet - one that could bring cataclysmic devastation to every inch of New York.
About the Author
JAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past decade: the Women's Murder Club, the Alex Cross novels and Maximum Ride, and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers. He lives in Florida with his wife and son. James is passionate about encouraging both adults and children alike to read. This has led to him forming a partnership with the National Literacy Trust, an independent, UK-based charity that changes lives through literacy.