Ian Shaw Movies

Based on the classic novel of the same name, 1978's Watership Down is one of the most beloved animated films of all time and receives a sequel in this 1999 release featuring the voices of John Hurt and Richard Briers. Journey to Watership Down centers on a group of rabbits and their adventures as they search for a new place to call home. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

This week, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is visiting the set of "Floppieville", a TV puppet show based on one of her children's stories. But it isn't kid stuff when the designer of the puppets finds out that someone is profiting from his ideas without proper credit or remuneration. Inevitably, a murder takes place--with one of the smiley-face Floppieville puppets as the weapon! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The life and career of the last in a long line of highly praised British executioners is explored in this drama directed by Adrian Shergold and starring Timothy Spall in the role of Albert Pierrepoint. As a youth, Pierrepoint was discouraged from pursuing the family career by a mother who claimed that the horrific line of work spurned his father to take up drink before eventually ushering him to an early grave. Despite his father's adverse reaction to the job's more gruesome details, Albert still thinks that he has what it takes to make it as an executioner and is soon rising to the upper echelon of hangmen thanks to his speed on the job and unwavering humanity. Eventually called before General Montgomery so that he may employ his skills in dispensing the Nuremberg criminals, Pierrepoint earns the respect and admiration of his fellow Britons just as his experiences in Germany stir his increasingly troubled conscience and abolitionists set into motion a heated campaign aimed at bringing the practice of hanging to an end. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Set near the end of 1899, as a new century is due to arrive and many people struggle to keep up with an era in flux, this drama follows the goings-on at a medical clinic operated by Professor Mandry (Charles Dance). Mandry appears somewhat progressive to his top student and right-hand man, Paul Reisner (Clive Owen), given his willingness to hire women and blacks - but Reisner's unchecked enthusiasm for Mandry soon fades when he discovers Mandry's hesitancy to acknowledge the importance of Felix's work on diabetic disorders, and his willingness to propagate eugenics via the enforced sterlization of impoverished British women. Eventually, their disagreements lead to the younger man's suspension; Paul then turns to Clara (Miranda Richardson), a free-thinking young woman working at the clinic who shows tremendous professional and emotional support to him. Soon they become lovers, but have disagreements of their own regarding medical ethics. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Featuring plenty of footage drawn from The Last Days of Pompeii this lurid sexploitation drama is also set in the decadent Roman resort town on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius and chronicles its moral and physical downfall. There are two versions available. The 79m version contains more sex and graphic violence. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this sex comedy, a young man named Tony Cannelloni (Louie Bonanno) buys a book called "Sex Appeal," moves out of his parent's home, and gets an apartment in Manhattan to try out the book's advice. Unknown to Tony, his landlord is listening in on his bedroom shenanigans and writing them up for Playboy Magazine. Two members of Tony's family also use his apartment for awhile and introduce another reason to illustrate sexual situations. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi