DVD round-up from The TOMB

'The Beat That My Heart Skipped' hits DVD, while there are three new horror releases to satisfy gore-hounds.

Mar 27 2006

Today is a good day for fans of horror, with not one, not two, but three horror belters hitting DVD shelves.

Best of the bunch is undoubtedly George A Romero's unheralded 1976 gem 'Martin'. The tale of a teenage vampire quenching his thirst for blood, Romero brilliantly mixes reality and myth to create one of the most believable fang films yet made.

'Saw II' is also released today, and while it doesn't have the shock value of the excellent original, it still packs a horrific punch as we follow the further adventures of 'Jigsaw'. It also features a fine performance from a former New Kid on the Block, something we thought we'd never say here at The TOMB.

And bringing up the rear, in more ways than one, is 'Calvaire' a French flick that revolves around a singer's van breaking down in the middle of a Belgian forest. A local man offers to take him in for the night and fix said automobile, and what follows is a horrific combination of 'Deliverance' and 'Misery' that lives up to its title, the English translation of which is 'The Ordeal'.

It's also a good day for fans of anime, with 1997 classic 'Princess Monoke' getting the special edition treatment and 'Steamboy' also finally hitting DVD.

For toddlers (and those of a youthful disposition), 'Trumpton: Complete Collection' is out, featuring every episode of the classic children's series, lovingly restored for DVD. Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble & Grub all make an appearance, while the disc also features a charming, if brief, featurette called 'Creating Trumptonshire'.

If dumb action floats your boat, 'Transporter 2' is released, featuring Jason Statham huffing, puffing and grunting his way through a series of ever more unbelievable stunts. And while the story is slimmer than a supermodel on stilts, 'Transporter 2' nevertheless ends up being more fun than it has any right to be.

And it's also a good day for foreign films, with 'Familia Rodante', 'Battle in Heaven' and 'The Beat That My Heart Skipped' all getting a release.

The latter, a loose remake of James Toback's 1978 thriller 'Fingers', was one of Time Out's films of 2006, and is probably the best film out today.

Finally, we've got a game to recommend, though it does have a strong film connection in that it's an adaptation of Francis Ford Coppola's Oscar-winning classic 'The Godfather'.

The game, which hits PS2 and PC on Friday, places you smack bang in the middle of the mafia masterpiece, where you must rise from lowly outsider to envied and feared Don.

It features the vocal talents of James Caan, Robert Duvall and the late great Marlon Brando, and includes all the inrigue, murder and mayhem that you'd expect from a 'Godfather' game, making it a must-buy for fans of the movie.

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