Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & III • May 27, 2009
DVDs
(continued from Restaurant page) to catch the deranged man. Tuesday Weld makes a comeback as Prendergast’s neurotic wife. Blu-ray extras include commentary by Douglas and Schumacher, a theatrical trailer, and a 34-page book with photos and production information. “The Ramen Girl” (Image Entertainment) stars Brittany Murphy in this comedy/drama hinging on the culture clash of an American woman stranded in Tokyo after an emotional breakup. Lost in the maze of a foreign culture, Abby (Murphy) seeks to console herself by hanging out in her neighborhood ramen shop. After seeing the almost mystical effects of the shop’s ramen on the customers, Abby convinces herself that her true path in life is to become a ramen chef. She persuades the shop’s temperamental Japanese master chef (Toshiyuki Nishida) to teach her the art of making ramen. Though its premise is fairly original, “The Ramen Girl” is lame in the comedy department. The relationship between master and student is played very broadly, and hinges mostly on the language barrier. There is also a romantic subplot between Abby and a wannabe rock star (Sohee Park), which seems contrived. Murphy is pleasant, but not much of an actress. Bonus features include deleted scenes and an alternate ending. “Forever Strong” (Crane Entertainment), based on true events, comes under the banner of inspirational sports dramas. Once the star of his rugby team, Rick Penning (Sean Faris) has gone down a life path laced with drugs and alcohol abuse. Sentenced to a year in jail for his second DWI conviction, Rick is given the opportunity by prison warden Marcus Tate (Sean Astin) to get back into the game by playing for his former rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly, Rick joins the team, where he must either adhere to a grueling training schedule and code of conduct that Coach Gelwix (Gary Cole) enforces, or finish out the season behind bars. Changed for the better, Rick rejoins his former team, coached by his overbearing father (Neal McDonough), and must face off with Highland at the national championship. Suspense arises as to where Rick’s loyalties lie. The film’s script is formula all the way. Faris is very good, however, and it is easy to be in his corner as he learns
that discipline is not merely something needed to play a game. Special features include a making-of featurette, commentary by the director and the real Coach Gelwix, and outtakes. New to Blu-ray is a group of titles from 20th CenturyFox Home Entertainment that includes three films of derring-do: two James Bond films, “License to Kill” (Timothy Dalton, the worst Bond in the series) and “The Man With the Golden Gun” (Roger Moore), and “Taken,” an absorbing thriller featuring Liam Neeson as Brian Mills, a former secret agent whose daughter is kidnapped on a trip to Paris. With only days to rescue her before she disappears forever, Mills snaps into action, drawing upon all the skills he has acquired to hunt down the kidnappers. Among the comedies new to Blu-ray in this group are “There’s Something about Mary” (Cameron Diaz) and “Big” (Tom Hanks). The Western genre is represented by Clint Eastwood, who reprises his role as “The Man with No Name” in “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” costarring Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef. “Fargo,” nominated for seven Oscars, winner of two, and one of the Coen Brothers’ quirkiest films, is based very loosely on true incidents. Frances McDormand and William H. Macy are excellent as a police chief and a guy attempting a cockeyed kidnapping scam, respectively. Watching “Fargo” will make you squirm, much like watching the stunning ineptness of Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott on “The Office,” and it is similarly irresistible. “Jeeves & Wooster: The Complete Series” (A&E Home Entertainment) stars Hugh Laurie of TV’s “House” as Bertie Wooster and Stephen Fry as his valet, Jeeves. Originally aired from 1990 to 1993, the series contains 23 digitally restored and re-mastered episodes. Bertie is the classic young British man of means, a tad too generous and not terribly bright. Jeeves is his resourceful valet, a “gentleman’s gentleman” without equal who sees Bertie through the swirl of annoying old friends, formidable aunts, uninvited guests, and romantic entanglements. To understand the relationship between the title characters, think of Arthur (Dudley Moore) and Hobson (John Gielgud) in “Arthur.” Casting is all important in this series and Laurie and Fry are a perfect fit, whether delivering witty quips or old-fashioned slapstick. There are some cast changes that might distract, but the stars remain throughout, capturing creator P.G. Wodehouse’s wit to a tee. The eight-disc set contains a biography of Wodehouse.
ARIES - March 21/April 20 ARIES a March 21/April 20 your life, Give - gift to someone in Give a gift to may seem risky. life, although it someone in your Don’t although you’ll make the rightDon’t worry, it may seem risky. choice. worry, you’ll temptationright choice. Beware the make the to overdo it. Beware the temptation to overdo it. TAURUS - April 21/May 21 TAURUS - April 21/May 21 from you It’s going to take a bit extra It’s going to take awork this from you to make things bit extra week, Tauto rus. A things one may try to lean on make loved work this week, Taurus. A loved one may try toneed more you financially, but may lean on you financially,give. may it over. than you can but Talk need more than you can give. Talk it over. GEMINI - May 22/June 21 GEMINI - May may have21 This week you 22/June serious idenThis week youDon’thave serious identity issues. may feel insecure about tity issues. Don’t feelhow much money your appearance or insecure about your appearance or how much money you make. Rise above your doubts you make. Rise above your doubts and you’ll enjoy success. and you’ll enjoy success. CANCER - June 22/July 22 CANCER - June 22/July 22 There may be a misconception at There may be a misconception at work to sort out on Tuesday. Rememwork to sort out on Tuesday. Remember, everyone has their own ways of ber, everyone has their own ways of doing business, so keep others’ feeldoing business, so keep others’ feelings in mind. ings in mind. LEO - July 23/August 23 LEO - July 23/August 23 You’re tempted to spend too much You’re tempted to spend too much money on a key item this week, Leo. money on a key item this week, Leo. It’s best if you wait for a bargain since It’s best if you wait for a bargain since you’re watching your budget these you’re watching your budget these days. Be patient. days. Be patient. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Long-range plans become quite clear Long-range plans become quite clear at the end of the week, Virgo. It makes at the end of the week, Virgo. It makes all of your prior effort worth it. Enjoy all of your prior effort worth it. Enjoy some “you” time on Friday. some “you” time on Friday. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 2323 Opportunities will spring this Opportunities will spring upupthis week, requiring you to be in top week, requiring you to be in top shape, Libra. Keep your eyes peeled shape, Libra. Keep your eyes peeled so so that these chances will not pass that these chances will not pass you by. Go for you by. Go for it! it! SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 2222 Since you are good at giving adSince you are so so good at giving advice, why not give yourself some for vice, why not give yourself some for a change. You are charge of your a change. You are in in charge of your future, and nothing feels better than future, and nothing feels better than reaching your goals. reaching your goals. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 2121 This week you are a social butterfly. This week you are a social butterfly. You smile, greet people and make evYou smile, greet people and make everyone feel welcome. may be the eryone feel welcome. It It may be the ideal time entertain on Friday. ideal time to to entertain on Friday. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 2020 It’s time speak up and share your It’s time to to speak up and share your true feelings, Capricorn. You have true feelings, Capricorn. You have nono reason be afraid of others’ reacreason to to be afraid of others’ reactions. Family a a major concern this tions. Family is is major concern this week. Expect Thursday be trying. week. Expect Thursday to to be trying. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 1818 Powerful emotional experiences are Powerful emotional experiences are the key this week’s activities. Get the key to to this week’s activities. Get in in touch with your need to spend imtouch with your need to spend impulsively -- now is not the time. pulsively -- now is not the time. PISCES - Feb 19/March PISCES - Feb 19/March 2020 Your future and desires come into Your future and desires come into clear view early this week, Pisces. clear view early this week, Pisces. However, don’t overextend yourself However, don’t overextend yourself in in chasing these dreams. Enjoy the chasing these dreams. Enjoy the magic you exude. magic you exude.
Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle