A proven classic and a quality newcomer

The Leopard
The AV Channel

This special edition of Luchino Visconti’s Il Gattopardo is a lot like generalisations of Italian life – slow.

At three hours long, this 1962 film was never in a hurry to tell in epic grandeur the tale of Italy becoming a unified country through battle and love.

A youngish Burt Lancaster plays the adulterous Prince of Salina, desperately trying to hold on to his aristocratic power.

Worth a look if you like your history to come to life and don’t mind subtitles. Don’t struggle with it otherwise.

– Leesha Furse

Garden Statex
Buena Vista

Garden State was a quiet achiever at the box office last year – the quirky homecoming story seemed to connect with a lot of people and hardly scored a single bad review.

The DVD release features a host of interesting extras, including commentaries with star/director Zach Braff, some deleted scenes and the best making-of featurette I’ve ever seen.

It gives an insight into what it’s like to get together some young talent and make a cool movie on a shoestring budget.

– PTE John Wellfare