In case you'd forgotten, My Beautiful Laundrette will remind you of those mid-80s days when Thatcherism ruled the earth (or so it seemed) and money was king. Stephen Frears' low-budget realisation of Hanif Kureishi's subversively critical play captures the contradictions of that time in a way that's as fresh today as when it was new. Omar's wheeler-dealer uncle, Nasser (Saeed Jaffrey), sums it up when he says, "In this damn country, which we hate and love, you can get anything you want". He sets up Omar (Gordon Warnecke) with a rundown laundrette and the instruction to make it a success, which Omar temporarily does, with the help of his childhood friend Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis). When the film first came out, it was the gay content that dominated the column inches, whereas now it seems a sensitive and multi-faceted summation of its decade, exploring social, ethnic and sexual issues and contradictions. Bringing together two such different characters as Omar--Asian, ambitious, for whom success is defined by wealth--and former childhood friend Johnny--white trash, ex-National Front--was inspired. Watching their friendship develop into love, and the ensuing bitterness and misunderstanding that they suffer from friends and family is very poignant. All the lead roles are well taken, the contradictory character of Nasser in particular. By turns, funny, touching and anger-inducing, this is a movie that wears its age lightly and its era proudly.

On the DVD: the picture is in 4:3 ratio with a Dolby Digital soundtrack. There's an original trailer and filmographies of the four main characters, with an additional biography for Day-Lewis. --Harriet Smith

One of the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, My Best Friend's Wedding not only gave Julia Roberts a delightful vehicle for her crowd-pleasing comeback, but it further distinguished itself by avoiding the conventional plotting of the genre. She plays a prominent Chicago restaurant critic whose best friend (Dermot Mulroney) is a former lover from her college days with whom she'd made a binding pact: if neither of them were married by the age of 28, they'd marry each other. Just when they're about to reach the deadline of their agreement, Mulroney arrives in Chicago to introduce Roberts to his seemingly perfect fiancée (Cameron Diaz) and announce their wedding in just three days. That leaves the shocked Julia with just three short days to sabotage the wedding and marry the man she now realises she's loved all along. With potential heartbreak waiting in the wings, she'll either get what she wants or pay the price for her selfish behaviour, and Ronald Bass' cleverly constructed screenplay keeps us guessing to the very end. It's no surprise that this was one of the box-office smashes of 1997. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

On the DVD: My Best Friend's Wedding is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and there is very little grain or noise, the only blurring coming from those soft focus moments. There are two "making-of" documentaries, one produced by HBO and the other a general behind the scenes mix of fly on the wall footage and interviews with cast and crew. Masquerading as helpful hints for the soon to be wed there's also a short featurette called "Wedding Do's and Don'ts". You can also sing along with one of the film's more bizarre moments; the fish restaurant rendition of "Say a Little Prayer", check out the pictures in the wedding album and read the filmographies. --Kristen Bowditch

Although My Big Fat Greek Life doesn't capture the same relaxed, storytelling rhythm of the phenomenally successful My Big Fat Greek Wedding, almost the entire acting ensemble from the movie returned for this small-screen spin-off (only John Corbett, due to other obligations, was ably replaced by Steve Eckholdt as Nia's non-Greek husband), and their skilled interplay makes for a satisfying show. So it's a shame that the sitcom was cancelled after half a season. Like the movie, most of the episodes are concerned with family issues, playing with the contrasting tugs of family obligation and the desire for independence, all anchored by writer-star Nia Vardalos's smart, engaging presence. --Bret Fetzer

It's not surprising that My Big Fat Greek Wedding grew more popular over the course of its US theatrical release (whereas most blockbusters open big and then drop precipitously)--not only does it have believable situations and engaging characters, but these characters (particularly our romantic heroine Toula, played by writer/performer Nia Vardalos) look like actual human beings instead of plastic movie stars. The result is the very accessible tale of a Greek-American (whose family sees her as over the hill at 30), who falls for a WASPy guy named Ian (John Corbett) and then has to endure the outrage, doubt, and ultimate acceptance of her deeply ethnically-centred family. The actors invest their wildly stereotypical portrayals with sincerity and compassion, giving the movie honest warmth instead of Hollywood schmaltz. But My Big Fat Greek Wedding ultimately succeeds because of Vardalos; with her intelligent, down-to-earth presence and charm carrying the film. --Bret Fetzer

A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she across her heritage and cultural identity.