Dvds Out Tomorrow

Aug 24 2008 Mickey Mcmonagle

Mailmusic Reviews

HEROES: SERIES 1 AND 2 (15) *****

An essential purchase for fans of the smash US series as the heroes gradually discover their powers and begin to draw together to battle the bomb which threatens New York.

Heroes is the sort of TV that makes it worth paying for a licence. Although season two was cut short by the Hollywood writers' strike, it's still almost as good as the first.

With a great set-up for season three at the end, there is every reason to believe that we are in for more top quality viewing from this amazing series - I can't wait.

NIM'S ISLAND (U) *****

Little Miss Sunshine star Abigail Breslin is on fine form here, confirming her status as the world's most likeable child star.

She is Nim, a little girl living with her microbiologist father Jack (Gerard Butler) on their own private island in the middle of the Asiatic sea.

She grows up living a perfect life, surrounded by animal pals and helping her dad with his work, collecting plankton. Her escape from everyday life - when she needs it - is reading the exciting Alex Rover adventure novels.

When her father goes missing after being caught in a storm, Nim panics and manages to email Alex Rover - actually a city-dwelling recluse (Jodie Foster). The three characters are forced to confront their own fears and limitations to pull together, making for a charming little film which younger viewers will love.

AWAKE (15) *****

I liked this weird movie - mainly because of the concept of a man having an operation while conscious and fully aware of all going on around him, including the agony he's suffering.

Hayden Christensen is Clay Beresford, a rich young lad who is dating his mother's assistant (Jessica Alba) and keeping the relationship secret from the old bat.

However when he is about to undergo a heart transplant, he comes clean, marries his girl and makes plans for their life together.

Once he is on the table, though, he realises he is paralysed but completely aware and is forced to search his soul for the truth about his life and everyone in it.