While Captain Corelli's Mandolin may frustrate admirers of Louis de Bernières' densely detailed novel, it proves Shakespeare in Love director John Madden is a worthy craftsman of literary films. It's a tastefully old-fashioned adaptation, preserving the novel's flavour while focusing on its love story set against the turbulence of World War II. Set on the Greek island of Cephallonia, the drama begins in 1940 with occupation by Italian troops, awkwardly allied with the Nazis and preferring hedonistic friendliness over military intimidation. That attitude is most generously embodied by Captain Corelli (Nicolas Cage), who is instantly drawn to the Greek beauty Pelagia (Penélope Cruz) despite her engagement to Mandras (Christian Bale), a resistance fighter whose absence leaves Pelagia needy for affection. Mandras's eventual return--and the inevitable attack by German bombers and ground troops--threaten to stain this Greek-Italian romance with deeply tragic bloodshed.

Accompanied by pensive serenades from the captain's cherished mandolin, the film charts the unlikely attraction of Corelli and Pelagia, whose wizened physician father (splendidly played by John Hurt) fears for the worst. Their love is uneasy (and Cage's miscasting doesn't help), but the island's beguiling atmosphere is as seductive to them as it is to the viewer, thus making the outbreak of violence--and a climactic earthquake--jarringly traumatic. Emphasising nobility in war and the many definitions of love, the story's wartime context intensifies the film's admirable depth of emotion. Faults will be found by anyone who's looking for them, but Captain Corelli's Mandolin remains a sensuous, richly layered film that die-hard romantics will find hard to resist.--Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Based loosely on a true story, Captain Jack is an Ealing-style whimsical comedy-drama about the triumph of everyday eccentrics. Captain Jack (Bob Hoskins) is a Whitby boat captain sick of hearing how the he wants to celebrate his predecessor's "discovery" of the Arctic by recreating his voyage on its 200th anniversary. Jack breaks harbour regulations and finds himself on the run from the Coastguard and Navy, accompanied by a crew of landlubbers including sisters played by Anna Massey and Gemma Jones. Sadie Frost is a passionate young stowaway who has her eye on Aussie Peter McDonald, while making up the party is David Troughton. Back on shore there are entertaining supporting roles for Patrick Malahide, Michelle Dotrice and Maureen Lipman, wife of writer Jack Rosenthal. Rosenthal screenplay isn't especially amusing, but he does manage to pack in all the expected feel-good developments, as well as including appropriate Dracula (1979) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) jokes. There's a whale, a pair of polar bears, a storm, lots of bonding and a gruff but warm-hearted sensibility throughout. Another winning piece of entertainment from Yorkshire, the county that gave the world The Full Monty.

On the DVD: the only extra is a terribly British trailer, presented non-anamorphically. The main feature however is presented in an excellent 1.77:1 anamorphically enhanced widescreen transfer. The picture is crisp and detailed, with not a blemish anywhere. The stereo sound is everything this kind of film needs without being in anyway spectacular. --Gary S Dalkin

Five more action-packed adventures: 'The Fat Cat', 'The Vanishing Ship', 'The Dingly Dangly Crab', 'Chests Of Drawers' and 'Hot Chocolate'.Starring: ; Captain Pugwash