DVD Releases November 24, 2008 (UK)

Mamma Mia! [2008]
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
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Editorial Reviews

The delirious sight of Meryl Streep leading a river of multigenerational women singing "Dancing Queen" is one of the high points of Mamma Mia!, the musical built around the songs of the hugely popular pop group ABBA. The plot sets in motion when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls), daughter of Donna (Streep), sends a letter to three men, inviting them to her wedding--because after reading her mother's diary, she suspects that one of them is her father. When all three arrive at the Greek island where Donna runs a hotel, Donna flips out and finds that passions she thought she'd laid aside are coming back to life. But let's face it, the plot is not the point--it's a ridiculous contrivance that provides an excuse for the characters to sing the massive hits of ABBA. Regrettably, first-time film director Phyllida Lloyd (who directed the original stage production) has drawn over-the-top performances from everyone involved, even Streep; every production number hammers its exuberance into your eyeballs. Which is too bad, because Mamma Mia! is a rarity: A middle-aged love story. The kids start things off, but the story is really about Streep and the three guys (former James Bond Pierce Brosnan, former Mr. Darcy Colin Firth, and Swedish star Stellan Skarsgard), as well as Donna's best friends (Christine Baranski, best known from the TV show Cybill, and Julie Walters, Calendar Girls). It's a romantic comedy aimed at the people who were around when all these songs were new, and that's an age group Hollywood largely ignores. For that alone, Mamma Mia! deserves to find an audience. --Bret Fetzer
Mamma Mia! [2008]

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Lee Evans - Big - Live at the O2
From Universal Pictures Video
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DVD Description
Lee Evans - Big - Live At The 02 was recorded at the world famous London 02 Arena in front of over 16,000 fans in October 2008. The five record breaking nights saw Lee perform to over 80,000 people. This DVD is the highlight of the record breaking Lee Evans - Big - UK Tour 2008 which took in over 59 dates in the UK's biggest arenas. The total ticket sales topped 500,000 which makes this the biggest ever comedy tour to date. Catch Lee at his peak with big stand-up, big effects and a big performance in what will be the biggest DVD of the year.

Synopsis
Lee Evans returns to the stage with another hilarious stand-up routine, this time at London's 02 arena.
Lee Evans - Big - Live at the O2

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Mamma Mia! Gift Set [2008]
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The delirious sight of Meryl Streep leading a river of multigenerational women singing "Dancing Queen" is one of the high points of Mamma Mia!, the musical built around the songs of the hugely popular pop group ABBA. The plot sets in motion when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls), daughter of Donna (Streep), sends a letter to three men, inviting them to her wedding--because after reading her mother's diary, she suspects that one of them is her father. When all three arrive at the Greek island where Donna runs a hotel, Donna flips out and finds that passions she thought she'd laid aside are coming back to life. But let's face it, the plot is not the point--it's a ridiculous contrivance that provides an excuse for the characters to sing the massive hits of ABBA. Regrettably, first-time film director Phyllida Lloyd (who directed the original stage production) has drawn over-the-top performances from everyone involved, even Streep; every production number hammers its exuberance into your eyeballs. Which is too bad, because Mamma Mia! is a rarity: A middle-aged love story. The kids start things off, but the story is really about Streep and the three guys (former James Bond Pierce Brosnan, former Mr. Darcy Colin Firth, and Swedish star Stellan Skarsgard), as well as Donna's best friends (Christine Baranski, best known from the TV show Cybill, and Julie Walters, Calendar Girls). It's a romantic comedy aimed at the people who were around when all these songs were new, and that's an age group Hollywood largely ignores. For that alone, Mamma Mia! deserves to find an audience. --Bret Fetzer
Mamma Mia! Gift Set [2008]

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WALL-E [Blu-ray] [2008]
Directed by Andrew Stanton
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Pixar genius reigns in this funny romantic comedy, which stars a robot who says absolutely nothing for a full 25 minutes yet somehow completely transfixes and endears himself to the audience within the first few minutes of the film. As the last robot left on earth, Wall-E (voiced by Ben Burtt) is one small robot--with a big, big heart--who holds the future of Earth and mankind squarely in the palm of his metal hand. He's outlasted all the "Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class" robots that were assigned some 700 years ago to clean up the environmental mess that man made of earth while man vacationed aboard the luxury spaceship Axiom. Wall-E has dutifully gone about his job compacting trash, the extreme solitude broken only by his pet cockroach, but he's developed some oddly human habits and ideas. When the Axiom sends its regularly scheduled robotic EVE probe (Elissa Knight) to earth, Wall-E is instantly smitten and proceeds to try to impress EVE with his collection of human memorabilia. EVE's directive compels her to bring Wall-E's newly collected plant sprout to the captain of the Axiom and Wall-E follows in hot pursuit. Suddenly, the human world is turned upside down and the Captain (Jeff Garlin) joins forces with Wall-E and a cast of other misfit robots to lead the now lethargic people back home to earth. Wall-E is a great family film with the most impressive aspect being the depth of emotion conveyed by a simple robot--a machine typically considered devoid of emotion, but made so absolutely touching by the magic of Pixar animation. Also well-worth admiring are the sweeping views from space, the creative yet disturbing vision of what strange luxuries a future space vacation might offer, and the innovative use of trash in a future cityscape. Underneath the slapstick comedy and touching love story is a poignant message about the folly of human greed and its potential effects on earth and the entire human race. --Tami Horiuchi, Amazon.com
WALL-E [Blu-ray] [2008]

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Westlife Live at Croke Park [2008]
Westlife
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Synopsis
The incredibly successful Irish boyband Westlife perform to a massive home crowd in this, the biggest live concert of their career to date. Recorded at Croke Park Stadium in June 2008, the boys delight fans to an emotional journey through their back catalogue of hits. Tracks include 'World Of Our Own', 'Uptown Girl', 'Unbreakable', 'Swear It Again', 'When You're Looking Like That', 'You Raise Me Up', and of course, the all-time favourite 'Flying Without Wings'.

From the Back Cover Tracklistings:

1. Hit You With The Real Thing
2. World Of Our Own
3. Something Right
4. What Makes A Man
5. Uptown Girl
6. Easy Way
7. If I Let You Go
8. Mandy
9. Sexyback / Blame It On The Boogie
10. Get Down On It
11. I'm Your Man
12. Let Me Entertain You
13. Already There
14. Unbreakable
15. Queen Of My Heart
16. Fool Again
17. Catch My Breath
18. Home
19. Us Against The World
20. Swear It Again
21. Flying Without Wings
22. When You're Looking Like That
23. YOU RAISE ME UP
Westlife Live at Croke Park [2008]

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In the Night Garden: Hello Everybody! Box Set
In the Night Garden
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DVD Description
Contains the following titles: Hello Igglepiggle!, Hello Upsy Daisy!, Hello Makka Pakka!, Hello Tombliboos!

Hello Igglepiggle!

'Igglepiggle's blanket in Makka Pakka's Ditch' - Igglepiggle has lost his blanket. Upsy Daisy helps him look for it. They hear the distant sound of Makka Pakka’s trumpet call. The Gazebo shows them a picture of Makka Pakka, so they visit him and find Igglepiggle’s blanket in Makka Pakka’s ditch, blocking Makka Pakka’s way. Makka Pakka is so pleased to be able to make his way out into the garden, that he washes Igglepiggle’s and Upsy Daisy’s faces on the spot.

'Jumping for Everybody' - The Pontipines count to six. Upsy Daisy shows Igglepiggle how to jump. Soon everybody is joining in the jumping game – from the great big Haahoos to the teeny tiny Pontipines. Everybody joins in the dance at the gazebo.

'Igglepiggle's Mucky Patch' - Igglepiggle falls down flat and gets a muddy patch on his tummy. He gets the mud on his hand, on his blanket and on Upsy Daisy. Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy go riding in the Ninky Nonk and spread mucky patches all over that too. Finally they meet Makka Pakka who washes them all clean. Thank you Makka Pakka! Everybody joins in the dance at the gazebo.

'The Pinky Ponk Adventure' - The Pinky Ponk gets stuck in a tree and tips up. Everybody slides up one end. They rock back and forth and tip the Pinky Ponk the other way. They slide up to the other end. The Pinky Ponk tips back and forth and everybody slides up and down, having great fun. At last the Pinky Ponk breaks free and flies off, taking everybody to the dance. 'Igglepiggle's Blanket Walks About By Itself' - Igglepiggle is enjoying dancing in the garden. He leaves his blanket in a safe place but when he returns, it is gone. Igglepiggle’s blanket has landed on Makka Pakka and seems to be running about by itself.

Hello Upsy Daisy!

'Quiet Please Tombliboos Upsy Daisy Wants to Sing!' - Upsy Daisy sets up her own special megaphone to sing. Unfortunately, there is so much noise coming from the Tombliboo’s house that she can’t make herself heard. Finally, all is well when everyone sings together.

'Upsy Daisy Kisses - Everything!' - Upsy Daisy loves the garden so much, she frequently happily kisses everything around her. Today, when she kisses a flower, the bridge, a tree – magical things happen. The bridge plays music, the flower grows, the tree sheds beautiful blossom.

'Upsy Daisy's Big Loud Sing Song!' - Upsy Daisy chooses to sing through her megaphone. The Pontipines cover their ears – what loud singing! They complain over the trubliphone, but then Makka Pakka joins in with his trumpet and they make lovely music together.

'Igglepiggle Looks for Upsy Daisy and Follows her Bed!' - Igglepiggle cannot find Upsy Daisy, but then he spots her bed. Upsy Daisy’s bed always knows where Upsy Daisy is. Igglepiggle follows Upsy Daisy’s bed all the way to Upsy Daisy.

'The Ninky Nonk Wants a Kiss!' - Upsy Daisy is kissing everything in the garden. She kisses a tree, a flower and Igglepiggle. She rides around the garden in the Ninky Nonk visiting and kissing people and things. Suddenly the Ninky Nonk stops and won’t go. Upsy Daisy wonders why – then realises -the Ninky Nonk wants a kiss too!

Hello Makka Pakka!

'Makka Pakka's Stone Concert' - Makka Pakka discovers he can make musical notes by tapping different stones. He makes up a tune. Everyone hears it and comes to listen to Makka Pakka’s stone concert.

'Runaway Og-Pog' - Makka Pakka is busy cleaning stones in the garden when his Og-pog runs away by itself. Makka Pakka and everyone in the garden give chase, but only the clever Pontipine children know how to stop it. Then Makka Pakka has his Og-pog back safe and sound.

'Makka Pakka's Present' - Makka Pakka makes a pile of six stones. One by one he gives everyone in the garden a stone for a present. He is left with one – a special stone for Makka Pakka.

'Makka Pakka Gets Lost' - Makka Pakka sets off through the garden looking for stones to wash and tidy. He is so busy he loses his way – oh dear, which way is home? No need to worry - because here comes the Pinky Ponk. Makka Pakka follows the Pinky Ponk all the way home. Everybody joins in the dance at the gazebo.

'Washing the Haahoos' - The smallest Pontipines and the biggest Haahoos are all clean when Makka Pakka washes their faces. But the Tombliboos are especially clean, because they also have great fun cleaning their teeth.

Hello Tombliboos!

'Too Loud Tombliboos' - The Tombliboos are inside their bush, happily practicing their music so loudly that it can be heard all over the garden. Everybody tries calling to the Tombliboos, but nobody can make themselves heard above the noise. What can be done to stop the terrible racket? The teeny tiny Pontipine children know just what to do.

'The Tombliboos' Busy Day' - The Tombliboos have a very busy day. First they ride on the Pinky Ponk, then they explore the garden and finally, they return to their house to clean their teeth before bedtime.

'Tombliboo Trousers' - The Tombliboos are having fun in the garden but, whatever they do, their trousers keep on falling down.

'Tombliboo Ooo drinks everybody else's Pinky Ponk juice' - Everyone is enjoying a ride on the Pinky Ponk, but Tombliboo Ooo is more interested in drinking all the Pinky Ponk juice. Inevitably his tummy is too full so Tombliboo Unn and Tombliboo Eee help him to bed and play music to make him feel better.

'Tower of 5' - The Pontipines are counting to five. Makka Pakka is building a pile of five stones. The Tombliboos are inside their bush, building with their very own bricks. Each Tombliboo is building a tower and when they begin to compare towers and share bricks, they succeed in building a very tall tower indeed – a tower of five. Everybody joins in the dance at the gazebo.

Extras:

Goodnight Everyone? – Press on the character icons to see them saying goodnight. On Igglepiggle DVD

Audio Commentary: with the creators Anne Wood & Andrew Davenport. On Igglepiggle DVD

Special Feature: Nap mode – View an episode with the nap mode engaged by pressing in the star icon in the episode menu and selecting an episode of your choice. Instead of returning to the main menu this mode displays Igglepiggle sleeping in his boat set against gentle music allowing parents and carers to share with their children a calm & quite moment. On all 4 DVDs.

Synopsis
A wonderful collection featuring each of the characters from IN THE NIGHT GARDEN. Titles included: 'Hello Igglepiggle!', 'Hello Upsy Daisy!', 'Hello Makka Pakka!' and 'Hello Tombliboos!'.
In the Night Garden: Hello Everybody! Box Set

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