If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director–oh, and a member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus–this is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. However, Brazil was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam sure captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka’s The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka’s famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unravelling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labelled as a miscreant.

The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself–until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. –Jim Emerson If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director–oh, and a member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus–Brazil is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. In fact it was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka’s The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek government clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. It’s not a software bug but a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka’s famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets squashed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unravelling this bureaucratic tangle, he himself winds up labelled as a miscreant. The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself–until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. –Jim Emerson

On the DVD: Brazil comes to DVD in a welcome anamorphic print of the full director’s cut–here running some 136 minutes. Disappointingly the only extra feature is the 30-minute making-of documentary “What Is Brazil?”, which consists of on-set and behind-the-scenes interviews. There’s nothing about the film’s controversial release history (covered so comprehensively on the North American Criterion Collection release), nor is Gilliam’s illuminating, irreverent directorial commentary anywhere to be found. The only other extra here is the ubiquitous theatrical trailer. A welcome release of a real classic, then, but something of a missed opportunity. –Mark Walker

<- Read More

Product Description
Now we at gadgetshop are quite fond of killing two birds with one stone – metaphorically speaking of course. For this ere product certainly won’t be killing any birds anytime soon (unless he gets possessed in some bizarre Bride of Chucky way). But he does have two quite notable functions. He’ll feed the birds (without the need for a tuppance a bag) and he’s gosh darned hilarious too. It’s pretty much true that squirrels and sparrows are big fans of extreme sports, so this bungee jumping feeder will give them a treat. Made from bird food, this dude will bungee dive from wherever you hang him – tree/garden shed/patio window. Neighbours will wonder where he came from – and the pigeons will appreciate your unique taste in bird feeders. Ideal all year round, he’s full of essential nutrients and vitamins. So hang him up and watch as all the hot birds flock to your gaff – so to speak.

• Bungee Bird Feeder
• Made from bird seed
• Measures: Approx H15cm x W16cm
• Comes packaged

Suck UK Bungee Bird Feeder

Buy Now for £5.80

Product Description
There’s nothing quite as poor as a bad hand in cards. Not only does a bad hand get you off on the wrong foot, so to speak, but it can completely ruin your day if you’ve foolishly bet your house/caravan/camel/wife on it. Now, you can, with a touch of sly and cunning, turn every hand into a devastating weapon against your foes and reveal astonishing mind powers by not only predicting their hands, but knowing when to fold and when to stay the course. This otherwise standard-issue set of casino quality plastic coated playing cards masks a deep and dangerous secret. They’re highly durable, giving them a lifetime of potential for scurrilous double-dealing. Subtle markings on each card show their suit and number using a technique known only to you, enabling you to stay in complete control and demonstrate awe-inspiring mastery of the deck, the whole table, and the entire gaming universe. Clearly, there are limitations and even we feel it would be foolish to take things too far. Like taking your chums’ money. But if they’re game for a laugh and know just how bad you really are at cards, we dare you to keep a straight face as you systematically take them to the cleaners.

• Casino quality plastic coated playing cards
• Highly durable
• Subtle marks show suit and number
• Easy to read and undectable
• Instructions included

Thumbs Up Marked Playing Cards – Star Back Design

Buy Now for £0.05

Product Description
Terminate virtually any television!

This gadget can put virtually any television into standby mode and is tiny enough to hide in the palm of your hand, so no one knows its you thats terminated that TV!

Theres nothing worse than going out for a quiet drink or intimate meal and having a TV screen ruining the experience for you. Now theres a solution! The Telly TerminateTM!

Small enough to attach to your keys and keep in your pocket so its always ready to turn off televisions wherever you are. Theres no way to tell its been used, so if youre discreet enough, itll just look like the TV has gone into standby mode on its own.

Handily, the Telly TerminateTM also features an LED torch, which is useful on its own, but also means that if you do get asked about the Telly TerminateTM, you can just say that its a tiny light that you carry with you.

Of course, being able to put TV screens into standby mode could be used for various pranks, wherever there are TV displays, but thats up to you and wed never suggest anything like that. No. Of course not!

• Turn off virtually any Television
• LED Torch function
• Keychain attachment included
• Small size means it is easily concealed

Turn Off Your TV – Remote Control Key Ring – Great Fun Gadget

Buy Now for £4.60