Because Hamburger Hill was released less than a year after Oliver Stone's Platoon and within months of Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, this exceptionally well-made film about one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War was largely overshadowed and overlooked. It's a pity, because in some respects this is the best of the Vietnam films of the late 1980s, at least in terms of the everyday authenticity it depicts. Stripped clean of dramatically extraneous narrative, the movie opts instead for a straightforward approach to its day-by-day account of one of the war's costliest victories--a deadly siege on Hill 937 in the Ashau Valley, where soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division engaged the enemy over the course of 11 brutal assaults between May 10 and May 20, 1969. The film specifically follows the 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, a mixture of "new guys" and battle-weary "short-timers" who fought against terrifying odds and suffered a 70 per cent casualty rate. From first scene to last, Hamburger Hill traces the rise and fall of their battle experience, from the horror of fire-fights to the camaraderie of men who've faced death and survived. Racial tensions flare and subside, trusts are established and courage emerges from unexpected places. Through it all, writer Jim Carabatsos and director John Irvin maintain a purity of focus that pays tribute to the soldier's life without promoting false patriotism or gung-ho theatrics. In addition, the film features a cast full of talented and well-known actors in the early stages of their careers, including Dylan McDermott and Don Cheadle (Devil in a Blue Dress, Boogie Nights). Colour accuracy, image clarity and the explosive soundtrack have been remarkably preserved in a flawless DVD transfer, lending even greater immediacy to this underrated film. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Hamilton Mattress is a cheering half-hour of stop-frame animation featuring Sludger, an awkward aardvark with amazing rhythmical ability. As he searches the dusty land for ants with his down-at-heel aardvark companions, Sludger dreams of bettering himself and of wearing "important trousers". His big chance comes when his talent for drumming is spotted by Feldwick, caterpillar-cum-agent. Before he can say "anty"--aardvark for all things good--Sludger finds himself in Beak City where birds rule the roost and beaks are beautiful. Feldwick and Sludger--the latter now transformed into drummer extraordinaire, "Hamilton Mattress", a name he takes from a billboard advertisement--must overcome avian prejudice and discover the true meaning of friendship if they are to survive and get to wear the trousers of Sludger's dreams.

Hamilton Mattress is the first in a trilogy of films produced by Christopher Moll whose other credits include the Wallace and Gromit adventure The Wrong Trousers and it will be interesting to see where the characters go next. This light modern fable may not have the mass appeal of Wallace and Gromit but with its infectious dance rhythms and unassuming aardvark hero, the tale is sure to be a hit with the whole family. As the advertisement says: "everyone loves a Hamilton Mattress". --Helen Baker

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

An Interview With the Writers
Behind the Scenes Features
Deleted Shots
Two Audio Commentaries
Trailers
Weblink
5:1 Track Option

A hip, thoroughly contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's epic story of passion, betrayal, and revenge!