Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • February 3, 2010 DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) Circus.” In “A Day at the Races” (1937), Groucho is Dr. Hackenbush, the epitome of quackery whose special patient is Mrs. Emily Upjohn (Margaret Dumont). Groucho and Chico engage in a seven-minute routine in which Chico, hawking “tutsi-fruitsi ice cream,” sells Groucho a racing tip that requires a succession of books to decode. “At the Circus” (1939) is memorable mostly for Groucho’s rendition of “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady,” which became one of his signature songs. Dumont is on hand again, and Eve Arden contributes her talents as a shady acrobat. “TCM Greatest Classic Films: Romance” contains “Splendor in the Grass,” starring Warren Beatty (in his screen debut) and Natalie Wood; “Love in the Afternoon” (Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper); “Mogambo” (Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly); and “Now, Voyager,” one of Bette Davis’ most iconic films. “TCM Greatest Classic Films: Sci-Fi Adventures” contains the giant bug flick “Them;” “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms,” featuring a stop-motion dinosaur created by Ray Harryhausen; “World Without End,” a time travel saga involving mutant monsters and an ever-diminishing group of subterranean survivors; and “Satellite in the Sky,” about mechanical failures in outer space. “As it Is in Heaven” (Lorber), nominated for Best For- eign Film at the 2005 Academy Awards, is the story of Daniel Dareus (Michael Myquist), a successful international conductor who returns to his childhood village in Sweden. Soon after, the local church choir asks for his advice. He cannot refuse, and nothing in the village is the same again. As the amateur choir develops and grows, he is drawn to the people of his old hometown, makes friends, and finds love. The film shows how music figures at traumatic points in Daniel’s life, how it consumes him, leads to a serious heart condition, and ultimately reinvigorates him and a colorful group of townsfolk. he film is in Swedish with English subtitles. “Liza’s at the Palace” (MPI Home Video) is a record of Liza Minnelli’s 2009 Tony-winning Broadway show. Minnelli recreated her Broadway show in a midnight performance in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2009. The concert features songs by George and Ira Gershwin; Betty Comden and Adolph Green; Sammy Cahn; and the team most closely associated with Minnelli, John Kander and Fred Ebb. It also includes special tributes: to Liza’s mother, Judy Garland, and to Liza’s godmother, Kay Thompson, a singer, dancer, songwriter, and vocal arranger/coach at MGM in the 1940s. In “Liza’s at the Palace,” her energy level is 100 percent and her joy of performing apparent in every moment as she feeds off the audience’s enthusiasm and adulation. The only bonus on the DVD is a conversation between Minnelli and Director/Choreographer Ron Lewis about the creation of the show. obvious that Executive Producer Ford decided movie star Ford would be good box office insurance. Fraser, who has played more than his share of goofy characters, effectively fits the role of Crowley. It is interesting to see him portray real emotions. Viewers accept the urgency he feels and the determination of a father to do whatever it takes to save his children. Rated PG, “Extraordinary Measures” is based on the book “The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million -- and Bucked the Medical Establishment -- In a Quest to Save His Children” by Geeta Anand. The movie covers the difficult steps faced by the father along the way, never giving up when things looked hopeless. It is a story of love and resolve, underscoring the lengths to which a parent will go to save the lives of his sick children even when there is no current treatment to prolong their lives. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You have to strike a balance between You have to strike a balance between your emotions and common sense, your emotions and common sense, Aries. Unless you do so, impulsive Aries. Unless you do so, impulsive actions will repeatedly get you into actions will repeatedly get you into trouble. trouble. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Deciding on a course of action may Deciding on a course of action may prove difficult for you, Taurus. While prove difficult for you, Taurus. While you can see all sides of the situation, you can see all sides of the situation, you also envision all of the possible you also envision all of the possible outcomes. outcomes. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You’ve found luck in love, Gemini. You’ve found luck in love, Gemini. Your current match is a keeper and Your current match is a keeper and the relationship will last long-term. If the relationship will last long-term. If you’re already attached, the fires of you’re already attached, the fires of love will burn even more brightly. love will burn even more brightly. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 A friend in need could use a good A friend in need could use a good shoulder to cry on this week, Cancer. shoulder to cry on this week, Cancer. Better turn off that cell phone or PDA Better turn off that cell phone or PDA and devote some attention to this perand devote some attention to this person. son. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Some people are growing impatient Some people are growing impatient over an important choice you have to over an important choice you have to make, Leo. Don’t let their eagerness make, Leo. Don’t let their eagerness push you into making a premature depush you into making a premature decision. cision. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 The urge to procrastinate rears its ugly The urge to procrastinate rears its ugly head, Virgo, but you won’t be swept head, Virgo, but you won’t be swept up by the temptation. You now know up by the temptation. You now know it’s faster to just breeze through everyit’s faster to just breeze through everything. thing. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Your bubbly personality opens doors Your bubbly personality opens doors to which others are often not granted to which others are often not granted access. Use this skill to your advanaccess. Use this skill to your advantage by introducing yourself to as tage by introducing yourself to as many people as possible. many people as possible. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Caring for others gives you a warm Caring for others gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling, Scorpio, even and fuzzy feeling, Scorpio, even though they may think you’re all sting though they may think you’re all sting and no substance. Volunteer your time and no substance. Volunteer your time this week. this week. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 This week you hear what someone is This week you hear what someone is telling you with an exaggerated level telling you with an exaggerated level of clarity. The stars are making sure of clarity. The stars are making sure communication channels are wide communication channels are wide open for reception. open for reception. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, this week you’ll be in danCapricorn, this week you’ll be in danger of giving into peer pressure, playger of giving into peer pressure, playing “follow the leader” in a sense. Reing “follow the leader” in a sense. Resist the temptation to do so because it’s sist the temptation to do so because it’s a bad road to travel. a bad road to travel. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Your actions of late haven’t been the Your actions of late haven’t been the most commendable, but you can balmost commendable, but you can balance them out with good deeds this ance them out with good deeds this week, Aquarius. For redemption, proweek, Aquarius. For redemption, provide a helping hand to someone. vide a helping hand to someone. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 You are in control this week, but not You are in control this week, but not entirely comfortable with this new entirely comfortable with this new role. Ease into it, and soon you will role. Ease into it, and soon you will find you like the driver’s seat. find you like the driver’s seat. ‘Extraordinary’ (continued from Entertainment page) involve a specially equipped van and a nurse. Megan may seem a bit precocious, but the point being made is that she is a fighter and has already overcome a few medical crises to reach her eighth birthday. Ford is executive producer of “Extraordinary Measures,” which likely explains why he is in the film. At this point in his career, we have come to expect to see him in better roles in better films. The role could have been played by many other competent actors. He was instrumental in making “Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “Witness” successful films. Here, it is nice to see him, but it is Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle