Five feature-length action adventures based on the Marvel comic.

In 'X-Men' (2000), mutants Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) are former friends, but look set to become mortal enemies when fascist US senator Robert Frank Kelly calls for the registration of all humans with abnormal powers. While telepath Xavier, who runs an altruistic academy for superhuman 'X-Men', wishes to enlighten non-mutants and break down the prejudices which divide them, Magneto believes that the only solution is for the mutants to take over. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) - an aggressive loner with an admantium skeleton and the ability to heal his body of any wound - and teenager Rogue (Anna Paquin), who can absorb the life force of others simply by touching them, are selected by Xavier to join his academy, but it isn't long before Magneto's followers are attempting to capture them so that they can assist in his plan for world domination.

In the sequel, 'X-Men 2' (2003), Xavier, Wolverine and the X-Men find themselves in the firing line after a failed assassination attempt on the president points the finger at the school. It was in fact the mysterious teleporter Nightwalker (Alan Cumming) who ordered it, and, in an attempt to clear their names, the X-Men are led into a trap set by the evil William Stryker (Brian Cox), a mysterious scientist apparently working for the government. As it soon becomes evident that Stryker's agenda is to destroy all mutants, the X-Men need to call in the help of many of their old friends and foes, including Magneto, if they are to stop him.

In the third film, 'X-Men: The Last Stand' (2006), the mutants are given the option of giving up their powers and becoming human after a private laboratory supported by the government finds a way to use the DNA of a powerful boy to correct the mutants. However, Magneto opposes and decides to join a force to fight against the government and kill the mutant boy. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) resurrects, uncontrolled by Xavier, and with the personality of the powerful Dark Phoenix. She destroys Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier and allies herself to the evil forces of Magneto, making them almost invincible.

The fourth film in the franchise, 'X-Men: Origins - Wolverine' (2009) is a prequel to the other three films. Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine, who, some 20 years before the action of the original movie, is seeking revenge on his half-brother Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) for the death of his girlfriend, and eventually signs up to the ominous Weapon X programme.

Finally, 'X-Men: First Class' (2011) charts the beginning of the saga, following Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) through their formative years in the 1960s as they come to terms with their newfound superpowers. Initially close friends who work together to fight against evil, the two men are driven apart by a conflict of opinion that ultimately leads to the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

Animated adventure sequel featuring the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx and Andy Garcia. Following their romantic escapades in the first film, Blu (voice of Eisenberg) and Jewel (Hathaway) are now happily married macaws with three children. Adventure lies in wait for the fledgling family when they leave Rio de Janeiro for the wilds of the Amazon to visit relatives. Not only does Jewel's estranged father Eduardo (Garcia) intimidate Blu - who is already out of his comfort zone so far from the city - but Nigel (Jermaine Clement), his nemesis, returns with his heart set on revenge. To complicate matters further, Blu and Jewel learn that the fragile habitat of the Amazon faces a grave threat. Can the couple save the environment that nourishes the creatures they visit and cope with the many challenges thrown their way?

Animated comedy adventure featuring the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway. Blu (voiced by Eisenberg) is a rare macaw living in a bookshop in small-town Minnesota. Believing himself to be the last of his kind, he is thrilled to hear that a female macaw of the same species has been spotted in South America. Blu must now overcome his social ineptitude and fear of flying and set out for Rio de Janeiro to track down the feisty and independent Jewel (Hathaway) and try to win her heart.

Paul Greengrass directs this Iraq war thriller loosely based on the book 'Imperial Life in the Emerald City' by Washington Post journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

Matt Damon stars as Chief Army Warrant Officer Roy Miller, a specialist soldier who joins forces with Wall Street reporter Lawrie Dayne (Amy Ryan) to expose the hotbed of covert and faulty intelligence surrounding the search for Iraq's cache of weapons of mass destruction.

This book by the author of Why Am I Afraid to Love? contains insights on self-awareness, personal growth and communication with others. Why do people continually hide their real selves from the people around them? Why are so many so insecure and afraid to open up? The answer, explains John Powell, is that maturity is reached by communicating and interacting with others. This book considers the consequences our real self faces if no one else ever finds out what we are like. In this enduring classic, the companion to Why Am I Afraid to Love?, John Powell explains how to be more emotionally open, and shows how people adopt roles and play psychological games to protect their inner selves. The courage to be our real selves can be developed, and then we can begin to grow. Now newly designed for a fresh audience, Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am? is as relevant as it has been for twenty years. With a proven track record, it continues to speak to the needs and aspirations of people today. It is best included in self help sections of general bookshops, but also has a religious appeal.

Big budget, CGI-animated update of the classic Dr Seuss parable, with Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett and Seth Rogen among the actors providing the voice talent. A jungle elephant named Horton (Carrey) discovers a race of tiny beings living in a solitary dandelion. Recognising the dangers they face, the friendly pachyderm resolves to keep his microscopic pals safe. However, as Horton is the only one who hears the inhabitants of 'Whoville', his other animal pals are convinced he's gone crazy and resolve to do something about it. Horton and his miniscule friends must struggle against these impossible odds to prevent disaster.

The third film in the popular 'X-Men' film franchise. When a private laboratory supported by the government finds the cure for the mutants, using the DNA of a powerful boy, the mutants have the option of giving up their powers and becoming human. However, Magneto (Ian McKellen) opposes and decides to join a force to fight against the government and kill the mutant boy. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) resurrects uncontrolled by Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and with the personality of the powerful Dark Phoenix. She destroys Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier, and allies to the evil forces of Magneto, making them almost invincible.

Matt Damon returns to star as the deadly CIA assassin in this espionage thriller directed by Paul Greengrass. After spending years off the grid, former agent Bourne (Damon) unexpectedly emerges from the shadows in search of more answers surrounding his hazy past. Meanwhile, new CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) is dealing with the fallout following a major cyber-attack, and authorises a new program to hunt down Bourne after he shows up on agency surveillance systems. Desperate to keep one step ahead of his relentless pursuers, Bourne seeks the help of ex-contact Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), and once again finds himself on the run across the globe and unable to trust anyone. The cast also includes Alicia Vikander, Riz Ahmed and Ato Essandoh.

Box set containing all three films from the hugely popular 'X-Men' film franchise based on the long-running Marvel comic strip. In 'X-Men' (2000), mutants Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) are former friends, but look set to become mortal enemies when fascistic US senator Robert Frank Kelly (Bruce Davison) calls for the registration of all humans with abnormal powers. While telepath Xavier, who runs an altruistic academy for superhuman 'X-Men', wishes to enlighten non-mutants and break down the prejudices which divide them, Magneto believes that the only solution is for the mutants to take over. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) - an aggressive loner with an admantium skeleton and the ability to heal his body of any wound - and teenager Rogue (Anna Paquin), who can absorb the life force of others simply by touching them, are selected by Xavier to join his academy, but it isn't long before Magneto's followers are attempting to capture them so that they can assist in his plan for world domination. In 'X-Men 2' (2003), Professor Charles Xavier, Wolverine, and the Academy for Gifted Youngsters, aka the X-Men, find themselves in the firing line after a failed assasination attempt on the President points the finger at the school. It was in fact the mysterious teleporter Nightwalker (Alan Cumming) who ordered it, and, in an attempt to clear their names, the X-Men are led into a trap set by the evil William Stryker (Brian Cox) - a mysterious scientist apparently working for the government. As it soon becomes evident that Stryker's agenda is to destroy all mutants, the X-Men need to call in the help of many of their old friends and foe, including Magneto (McKellen), if they are to stop him. In 'X-Men 3: The Last Stand' (2006), when a private laboratory supported by the government finds the cure for the mutants, using the DNA of a powerful boy, the mutants have the option of giving up their powers and becoming human. However, Magneto (McKellen) opposes and decides to join a force to fight against the government and kill the mutant boy. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) resurrects uncontrolled by Xavier and with the personality of the powerful Dark Phoenix. She destroys Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier, and allies to the evil forces of Magneto, making them almost invincible.

This book offers original economic analyses on the economy-environment relationship in Eastern and Central Europe. Drawing on the Hungarian experience, it provides empirical evidence on the reform of environmental policy which can be applicable to similar problems in other transition economies.The macroeconomic shocks of the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe have been exceptional in both their intensity and speed. The implications of this adjustment process are examined in relation to their effects on environmental policy, with special emphasis on the rethinking of standard environmental policy recommendations for transition economies. The authors focus on a variety of issues including the environmental concerns raised by the privatization process and to what extent the less rigorous environmental regulations in Hungary attract foreign direct investment. There is also a critical overview of the existing literature and an examination of the costs of reducing air pollution and the use of the contingent valuation method to measure the economic benefits of improving air quality in Hungary. In addition the authors assess the effects of industrial restructuring on emissions and analyse incentive-based policy measures including prospects for emission trading. Their conclusions challenge the common perception that energy pricing policy is the most important policy measure to induce structural changes in transition economies that are beneficial to the environment. Economics for Environmental Policy in Transition Economies will be of interest to policymakers, academics and postgraduates working in the fields of transition economics, environmental economics and environmental valuation.

Animated comedy adventure featuring the voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway. Blu (voiced by Eisenberg) is a rare macaw living in a bookshop in small-town Minnesota. Believing himself to be the last of his kind, he is thrilled to hear that a female macaw of the same species has been spotted in South America. Blu must now overcome his social ineptitude and fear of flying and set out for Rio de Janeiro to track down the feisty and independent Jewel (Hathaway) and try to win her heart.

In Last Poem for Sarah & Other Poems, John Powell Ward, now at the age of eighty-five and in the seventh decade of his career, offers memorable work on childhood and recollections of Wales. Most poignant though is his commentary on grief in the titular elegy for his late wife, Sarah. Last Poem for Sarah contains a sequence of fourteen sonnets of 'childhood and after', where intense memories of joy and pain are captured precisely. There are striking stories here, like that of a mother desperately trying to appease and breastfeed her baby on the train. There is the tale of a grammar school teacher who regularly erupted into violence and hit the boys with the lids of their desks, and a vivid portrait of brothers visiting a log cabin in Ontario where ice is ten feet thick. A sequence of poems about experiences of Wales is rich and well-observed capturing a strong sense of time and place, for example in 'Toby Jugs in the White Lion at Ferryside Station, Dyfed'. Recollections range around important figures from the Welsh arts like a memorable encounter with R.S.Thomas who is drawn into conversation by the sighting of a chough, or the parable about the house of Welsh architect and painter, Ernest Morgan, a recluse in his lifetime but whose house now brims with tourists. Altogether, Last Poem for Sarah is a highly satisfying read from a poet with a wealth of recollections from a life well-lived. In the poems looking back at the past, Ward captures nuances and flavours of the twentieth century. With a Wordworthian appreciation for 'unremembered acts' that take on great importance, Ward reaches back into history, childhood, adulthood and loss and sets those memories aflame.

The third film in the popular 'X-Men' film franchise. When a private laboratory supported by the government finds the cure for the mutants, using the DNA of a powerful boy, the mutants have the option of giving up their powers and becoming human. However, Magneto (Ian McKellen) opposes and decides to join a force to fight against the government and kill the mutant boy. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) resurrects uncontrolled by Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and with the personality of the powerful Dark Phoenix. She destroys Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier, and allies to the evil forces of Magneto, making them almost invincible.

Feelgood Disney animation following the adventures of Bolt, canine star of a Hollywood TV show, who has to find his way home after accidentally getting lost. Having never left the sanctuary of his studio set, action TV star and German Shepherd, Bolt (voice of John Travolta), actually believes he possesses the superpowers of his show's fictional character. He receives a rude awakening when, after being accidentally shipped from Hollywood to New York, he has to figure out a way to get home. Teaming up with some new friends - a seen-it-all-before alley cat called Mittens (voice of Susie Essman), and fat hamster Rhino (voice of Mark Walton), who's encased in a plastic ball, dog-out-of-water Bolt sets off on his cross-country journey to rejoin his owner Penny (voice of Miley Cyrus).

The capacity to love is in everyone. Yet so often it remains trapped and waiting to be released. In this text the author confronts the barriers that restrain. He looks at the fear of rejection, the motives for love, how to truly understand the inner self and what true love looks like. He then considers the true test of love: can self be forgotten in loving others.

The political journal of John Wodehouse, first Earl of Kimberley (1862-1902) is one of the finest political diaries of the last half of the nineteenth century. Born into an old Tory family, Kimberley followed his forebears in attending Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, but shocked his neighbours by adopting Liberal principles. As Lord Clarendon's protege, he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to Russia following the Crimean War, and under-secretary at the Foreign Office after his return (1859-61). With Lord John Russell's elevation to the peerage in 1861, Kimberley resigned, and shortly after began the journal that he regularly kept until his death in 1902. Uniquely placed as an observer, Kimberley was the only Liberal to serve in every Cabinet of the Gladstone/Rosebery era. The Kimberley Journal is replete with humorous anecdotes, information regarding policy development, and acute observations about politicians and political situations.

Academy Award-nominated animated comedy adventure sequel based on the children's novel by Cressida Cowell. Five years after having brought together dragons and Vikings on the island of Berk, Hiccup (voice of Jay Baruchel) and his dragon Toothless now spend their days soaring through the clouds searching for unchartered lands. But after discovering a previously unknown cave where a large colony of wild dragons live, the pair soon find themselves at the heart of a new adventure, as they try to keep the peace and attempt to change the future of humans and dragons forever. The movie won the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

A collection of children's animated adventures from the Blue Sky studios. In 'Epic' (2013), Mary Katherine (voice of Amanda Seyfried) lives in a cabin in the woods with her eccentric father, Professor Bomba (Jason Sudeikis), who studies the local fauna. One day, when he doesn't return from a hike in the forest, she sets out to find him, inadvertently stumbling across some strange glowing leaves. Clutching one, Mary Katherine is shrunken down to the forest floor, where, after meeting up with a group of warriors known as the Leafmen, she finds herself helping her new friends in their war to save their world from the clutches of the evil Boggans. In 'Horton Hears a Who!' (2008), a jungle elephant named Horton (Jim Carrey) discovers a race of tiny beings living in a solitary dandelion. Recognising the dangers they face, the friendly pachyderm resolves to keep his microscopic pals safe. However, as Horton is the only one who hears the inhabitants of 'Whoville', his other animal pals are convinced he's gone crazy and resolve to do something about it. Horton and his miniscule friends must struggle against these impossible odds to prevent disaster. In 'Ice Age' (2002), a group of three animals embark upon an epic journey at the dawn of the great ice age. Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo), Manfred the woolly mammoth (Ray Romano), and Diego the sabre-toothed tiger (Denis Leary) team up to help return a human baby to its father, and must risk life and limb as they traverse boiling lava pits and travel through dangerous ice caves to complete their mission. In 'Ice Age 2: The Meltdown' (2006), Manny is ready to start a family, but nobody has seen another mammoth for a long time; in fact, Manny thinks he may be the last one. That is until he miraculously finds Ellie (Queen Latifah), the only female mammoth left in the world. The only problem is, they can't stand each other... In 'Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' (2009), Scrat the squirrel (Chris Wedge) is still trying to get his paws on that ever-elusive nut, Manny and Ellie anxiously await the birth of their mini-mammoth, and Diego wonders if he's growing too laid-back living the life of a pampered house cat. Meanwhile, Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some unusually large eggs, and inadvertently discovers a mysterious underground world where dinosaurs still roam. In 'Ice Age 4: Continental Drift' (2012), when the entire continent is set adrift following a global cataclysm, Manny, Diego and Sid find themselves separated from the rest of the herd. Commandeering a nearby iceberg as a makeshift boat, they take to the high seas. Fearsome sea creatures and battlethirsty pirates are among the challenges faced by the intrepid trio as they ride the waves of the world in search of their family. In 'Rio' (2011), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare macaw living in a bookshop in small-town Minnesota. Believing himself to be the last of his kind, he is thrilled to hear that a female macaw of the same species has been spotted in South America. Blu must now overcome his social ineptitude and fear of flying and set out for Rio de Janeiro to track down the feisty and independent Jewel (Anne Hathaway) and try to win her heart. Finally, in 'Robots' (2005), Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) is a small town robot who has a gift for inventing things and a hope of moving beyond his quaint surroundings. Dreaming of doing something better than working alongside his dad in a restaurant, Rodney, armed with his unique talent for inventing, embarks on a journey to Robot City to meet his idol, the majestic inventor Bigweld (Mel Brooks).

"Any readers whose love of music has somehow not led them to explore the technical side before will surely find the result a thoroughly accessible, and occasionally revelatory, primer."--Seattle Post-Intelligencer What makes a musical note different from any other sound? How can you tell if you have perfect pitch? Why do ten violins sound only twice as loud as one? Do your Bob Dylan albums sound better on CD vinyl? John Powell, a scientist and musician, answers these questions and many more in How Music Works, an intriguing and original guide to acoustics. In a clear and engaging voice, Powell leads you on a fascinating journey through the world of music, with lively discussions of the secrets behind harmony timbre, keys, chords, loudness, musical composition, and more. From how musical notes came to be (you can thank a group of stodgy men in 1939 London for that one), to how scales help you memorize songs, to how to make and oboe from a drinking straw, John Powell distills the science and psychology of music with wit and charm.

Badly wounded and suffering from amnesia, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is pulled out of the Mediterranean by fishermen, and is able to recall neither who he is nor what happened to him. His only clue to his identity is the number of a Swiss bank account which has been etched into a device implanted in his body. Following the lead to Zurich, he discovers money, passports and a gun waiting for him, but also earns the attention of the security services and has to leave in a hurry. He then persuades a young woman named Marie Kreutz (Franka Potente) to drive him to Paris, where he hopes to find out his true identity and discover the reason why the CIA are taking such an interest in him. Directed by Doug Liman ('Swingers', 'Go').

The final instalment of Paul Greengrass's action trilogy, based on the novels by Robert Ludlum. The tension is ratcheted up even further as Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) races to uncover the dark mysteries of his past while a government agent is hot on his trail following a shootout in Moscow. Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Paddy Considine co-star.

Double-bill of animated movies about a gang of prehistoric animals who become close friends. In 'Ice Age' (2002), the story begins at the dawn of the great ice age, when a group of three animals embark upon an epic journey. Sid the sloth, Manfred the mammal, and Diego the sabre-toothed tiger team up to help return a human baby to its father, and must risk life and limb as they traverse boiling lava pits and travel through dangerous ice caves to complete their mission. Along the way they also meet Scrat, a squirrel-rat determined to plant an acorn in a glacier. The film features the voices of John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Jack Black. In 'Ice Age 2 - The Meltdown' (2006), Manny the woolly mammoth (voice of Ray Romano), Sid the sloth (Leguizamo), Diego the saber-toothed tiger (Leary), and the hapless prehistoric squirrel/rat known as Scrat (Chris Wedge) are back in this sequel to the popular 2002 film. Manny is ready to start a family, but nobody has seen another mammoth for a long time. In fact, Manny thinks he may be the last one. That is until he miraculously finds Ellie (Queen Latifah), the only female mammoth left in the world. The only problem being that they can't stand each other. Ellie comes with some excess baggage in the form of her two possum friends, Crash (Seann William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck), a couple of daredevil pranksters and cocky, loud-mouthed troublemakers. When a huge glacial dam holding off oceans of water is about to break, threatening the entire valley, the only chance of survival lies at the other end of the valley. So our three heroes, along with Ellie, Crash and Eddie, form the most unlikely family as they embark on a mission across an ever-changing, increasingly dangerous landscape.

This is the instructor's resource manual to accompany English in Blue & White.