Dvds out tomorrow

May 18 2008 Mickey Mcmonagle

SWEENEY TODD (18) **

I hate musicals so was never going to go for this - which is a shame as, silly singing bits aside, it's actually not a bad movie.

Johnny Depp is great as Benjamin Barker, an innocent man banged up by a judge (Alan Rickman) who wanted to steal his wife. On his release, the wronged man takes on the identity of Sweeney Todd and sets out to wreak his bloody revenge with the help of Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Lovett.

It's a gory, bloody affair with a stunning Gothic setting which creates a dark, tense feel to the film while maintaining director Tim Burton's usual fantasy feel.

It is an adaptation of the Sondheim Broadway musical so the songs were always going to play a part. But a straightforward movie version minus the warbling would have been a great film. As it is, it's OK.

PRISON BREAK: SEASON 3 (15) ****

There was always going to be a problem with long-term success for this great drama - surely once the boys have completed their first-season great escape, that's got to be the end?

Well, the writers have neatly answered the question by sending hero Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) back to the slammer, this time to an even tougher jail in Panama.

Of course he has been framed in order to help another inmate escape - so it's pretty much back to square one all round. A decent stab at keeping the momentum of the first series going and an improvement on season two.

TWO AND A HALF MEN: SEASON 3 *****

This cheery US comedy series is perfect chill-out viewing. Charlie Sheen is perfectly cast as pretty much himself - a wealthy playboy with a life of luxury in a beachfront Malibu pad, working his way through a succession of beautiful women and running at the slightest whiff of commitment.

His life was turned upside down at the start of season one when his annoying, geeky and very skint brother Alan (Jon Cryer) was kicked out by his wife and came to live with him - bringing along son Jake (Angus T Jones) at weekends.

It's hilarious stuff with killer one-liners, most of the comedy coming from the contrast between the brothers. A must.