TRANSFORMERS (Cert 12, 137 mins, Paramount Home Entertainment, Sci-Fi/Action/Romance, also available to buy DVD £19.99/two-disc Special Edition DVD £24.99/HD DVD £29.99)
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Jon Voight, and the voices of Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving.
FEUDING robot clans, The Autobots and the Decepticons, head for planet Earth to recover an artefact in the possession of shy and unassuming high school student, Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf), the great grandson of a famous explorer.
Sam doesn't realise the significance of the item in his possession - a pair of spectacles engrained with a map that gives the location of the AllSpark, a giant cube containing the very essence of Transformer life. Indeed, Sam is much more interested in Mikaela (Fox), one of the most beautiful girls at school.
When noble Autobot leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Cullen) and his four loyal compatriots – Bumblebee, Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet – finally make contact with Sam, the youngster begins to understand the pivotal role he must play in the unfolding drama.
Meanwhile, the nasty and pernicious Decepticons, led by power-hungry Megatron (voiced by Weaving), pursue Sam with their own evil agenda.
Director Michael Bay indulges his love of outrageous action sequences and deafening sound in this live action blockbuster based on the ‘robots in disguise’. He orchestrates numerous big set pieces with brio, from the opening showdown on an air force base to a breathtaking chase along a highway with Decepticons slamming through traffic, and the climactic showdown which reduces an entire city to flaming rubble.
DVD Extras: Director commentary; two-disc version: director commentary, The Story Sparks featurette, Human Allies featurette, I Fight Giant Robots featurette, Battleground featurette, Rise Of The Robots featurette, Autobots Roll Out featurette, Decepticons Strike featurette, Inside The AllSpark featurette, From Script To Sand: The Skorponok Desert Attack featurette, early concept sketches, theatrical trailers.
Rating: ****
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 (Extended Edition) (Cert U, 93 mins, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, DVD £16.99/DVD gift pack £39.99, Family/Musical/Romance)
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Chris Warren Jr, Kaycee Stroh, Oleysa Rulin, Ryne Sanborn.
WHEN the original High School Musical, a fairy-tale inspired by Romeo & Juliet, premiered on the Disney Channel in early 2006, few could have predicted the beginnings of a global phenomenon.
Teenage girls now swoon at the mention of Zac Efron, the soundtrack album has gone multi-platinum and various DVDs (including a sing-along version) have propelled the brand to the top of the charts.
This Christmas, stockings will be heaving with the sequel, a sprightly affair that kicks off with the high energy number What Time Is It? and barely pauses for breath for the next ninety-something minutes as the attractive stars sing and dance through toe-tapping tunes like All For One and You Are The Music In Me.
The temptations of money underpin High School Musical 2 as Sharpay (Tisdale) tries to woo Troy (Efron) away from girlfriend Gabriella (Hudgens) by helping him to secure a job at the prestigious Lava Springs Country Club.
However, her scheme fails and Troy manages to win jobs for Gabriella and all of his East High Wildcat pals including Chad (Bleu), Taylor (Coleman), Zeke (Warren Jr), Martha (Stroh), Kelsi (Rulin) and Jason (Sanborn).
Needless to say, Troy and Gabriella's relationship feels the strain, and there's the small matter of the impending Lava Springs talent show. Director-cum-choreographer Kenny Ortega ensures the pace never slackens as the characters find fulfilment, usually with a song in their hearts.
It's perky with a capital p and guaranteed to keep viewers, young and old, humming and skipping well into the new year.
A DVD gift pack comprising High School Musical (Concert Edition), High School Musical (Remix Edition) and High School Musical 2 (Extended Edition), in school locker packaging is also available.
DVD Extras: Exclusive music scene, deleted scenes, bloopers, sing-along version, High School karaoke.
Rating: ***
