Page 28 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • December 8, 2010 DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) reminiscent of those black-and-white Universal horror films of the 1930s -- a del Toro inspiration. In Spanish and English with English subtitles, “Cronos” comes with a booklet featuring a critical essay and excerpts from del Toro’s notes for the film. “Restrepo” (Virgil Entertainment) is a documentary that takes a close-up look at men and women on the front lines in war. For over a year, two journalists on assignment for “Vanity Fair” and ABC News, hooked up with the Second Platoon of Battle Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in the remote valley of Korengal in Afghanistan. The goal was to document the soldiers’ day-to-day lives. There was no political agenda and the filmmakers did not question the necessity of maintaining a presence in a dangerous war zone. They didn’t speak to generals or editorialize on what they observed. There is no narration. What makes this 93-minute documentary so captivating is the often matter-of-fact way the soldiers go about their duties. The drama comes from the ever-present danger of enemy fire, and the film does chronicle a lengthy firefight. One of the most gripping sequences shows the platoon doing a walkthrough of a village after an air strike. As the soldiers walk down the deserted streets, there is the very real danger of ambush, yet they proceed, determined to secure the village. In the 1960s, the evening TV news would show footage of men in the jungles of Vietnam searching for the enemy, exchanging fire with them, or simply coping with nature. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have not been documented as widely, so a movie like “Restrepo” is all the more valuable in illustrating the pressures, boredom, backbreaking labor, camaraderie, and danger faced by Americans in uniform. Whatever your feelings about war in general or the Afghanistan war in particular, “Restrepo,” available in Blu-ray and DVD formats, will bring home what it is to be a soldier in wartime. Two titles in the “America’s Music Legacy” series (MVD Visual) offer performances in the folk and blues genres. The folk release features the Limeliters, Buffy Saint Marie, Glenn Yarbrough, the New Christy Minstrels, Odetta, Doc Watson, Dave Van Ronk, and Theodore Bikel, and such folk standards as “Frankie & Johnny,” “Cripple Creek,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “Greenback Dollar,” and “Time in a Bottle.” The Blues DVD contains film clips of Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, Mamie Smith, and Bessie Smith. Other featured performers are B.B. King, Linda Hopkins, Joe Williams, Esther Phillips, Buddy Guy, Paula Kelly, and Ernie Andrews. The song lineup includes “St. Louis Blues,” “Stormy Monday,” “Life Is a Gamble,” “Who’s Lovin’ You Tonight?” and “After Hours,” “Jammin’ the Blues,” and “Cherry Red.” Brock Peters hosts. Home,” both sung by Valjean. It’s fascinating to experience how the lyrics and music carry such a complex story forward as they elicit an emotional response. There is little dialogue. The audience cares about the characters because of what is learned from the songs. “Les Miserables” is musical theater, if not traditional musical comedy, but also owes a lot to opera. The set design by Matt Kinley incorporates projections that stand in for Paris streets and sewers and create the illusion of an enormous space, moving as the actors move, giving the stage a bit of motion-picture feel, and expanding the limitations of the stage. “Les Miserables” will run through Dec. 30. The performance schedule is Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 1:30 and 7 p.m., Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $92 and may be ordered by phone at (973) 376-4343, online at www.papermill.org, or at the Paper Mill Playhouse’s box office on Brookside Drive in Millburn. ARIES -- Mar 21/Apr 20 This is not a good time for you to sign a contract or take on any new responsibilities, Aries. However, you should continue just what you’re doing. ARIES -- Mar 21/Apr 20 This is not a good time for you to sign a contract or Apr 21/Maynew responTAURUS -- take on any 21 sibilities, Aries. your entireyou should Compassion is However, nature this continue just what you’re doing. week, Taurus. You’re welcoming ev- Compassion is your entire nature this week, Taurus. You’re welcoming evGEMINI -- May 22/Jun 21 eryone with open arms, both family Gemini, you’ll find that you have just and friends alike. The bonus: You feel too much on good about it.your plate this week. You eryone with open arms, both family and friends alike. The bonus: You feel TAURUS --it. 21/May 21 good about Apr had better delegate some to others or there are bound 22/Jun 21 GEMINI -- May to be things that get overlooked. Gemini, you’ll find that you have just too much on your plate this week. You CANCER -- Jun 22/Jul to had better delegate some 22 others or Listen to your to be things that and there are bound intuition, Cancer, get overlooked. it will certainly guide you in the right ‘Les Miserables’ (continued from Entertainment page.) emotion or compassion. A character I had not remembered from the original Broadway production was appropriately showcased in the Paper Mill show. Enjolras is a young student who intends to face injustice head-on, and leads a rebellion. He knows the risks, the dangers, and the possibility of dying for a cause, yet he perseveres, inspiring his fellow students, including Marius. Hays has a face of youthful innocence and unswerving resolve, and a stirring way with a song. The best known songs from “Les Miserables” are “I Dreamed a Dream,” performed by Fantine, “One Day More,” sung with bravado by a chorus of idealistic student revolutionaries, and “Who Am I?” and “Bring Him CANCER -- Jun 22/Jul 22 big picture the next few days, instead Listen little details. of the to your intuition, Cancer, and it will certainly guide you in the right path. TryJul devote your energy to the LEO -- to 23/Aug 23 big picture the next few days, instead No one will be able to sway your deof the little details. path. Try to devote your energy to the LEO -- Jul 23/Aug 23 is one Leo, and you’ll find your deNoright, will be able to swayyou won’t go wrong. cision when you come to grips with a big question. Stick with what you feel VIRGO -- Aug you’ll find is right, Leo, and 24/Sept 22 you won’t Virgo’s, those around you will not be go wrong. VIRGO -- Aug 24/Sept 22of the situaforefront and take charge Virgo’s, those around thoughts about a tion, Virgo. Nagging you will not be as organized pushed aside.step to the romance get as you, so forefront and take charge of the situation, Virgo.Sept 23/Oct 23 LIBRA -- Nagging thoughts about a romance get pushed aside. and the end A heated debate occurs, LIBRA -- Sept 23/Oct 23 sation ,Aei it may spawn a new relaA heated debate occurs, and the end tionship. This week you make good result could be more than just converprogress on projects. sation ,Aei it may spawn a new relationship. This week you make good SCORPIO -- Oct 24/Nov 22 progress on projects. cision when you come to grips with a big question. Stick with what you feel as organized as you, so step to the result could be more than just conver- aspects of -- Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIOyour life this week than ever before. you you learn how to manipuScorpio,Plus, are more in control of all late them all to work best for you. aspects of your life this week than ever before. Plus, you learn how to manipulate them all to work best for you. SAGITTARIUS -- Nov 23/Dec 21 Although your vices are strong, SagSAGITTARIUS -- Novlook past them ittarius, you’re able to 23/Dec 21 Although youron the are strong, Sagand continue vices straight and narittarius, you’re able towon’t past them row. Pretty soon you look have a deand continue on the straight and narsire for such things at all. row. Pretty soon you won’t have a desire for such things at all. Scorpio, you are more in control of all Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Take time off -- Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN from your busy life to sit back and smell the proverbial roses, Take time off from your busy life to Capricorn. smell the proverbial roses, sit back and You deserve a break from the humdrum, and now break ideal Capricorn. You deserve a is the from time. the humdrum, and now is the ideal time. AQUARIUS -- Jan 21/Feb damper on Financial woes will put a 18 Financial woes you’ll recuperate soon the week, but will put a damper on the week, but you’ll recuperate soon enough, Aquarius. Your people-person enough, Aquarius. Your people-person skills are in full effect on Thursday. skills are in full effect on Thursday. PISCES -- Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, it’s one thing to have goodwill Pisces, it’s one thing to have goodwill toward others, but it’s another to share toward others, but it’s another to share your inner thoughts and feelings with your inner thoughts and feelings with them, too. them, too. CAPRICORN -- Dec 22/Jan 20 AQUARIUS -- Jan 21/Feb 18 PISCES -- Feb 19/Mar 20