Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES III & IV • March 10, 2010 ‘The Crazies’ (continued from Entertainment page) and the small-town mayhem that suddenly breaks out is right out of “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” the classic “Twilight Zone” episode in which neighbor turned against neighbor, leading to mob violence. “The Crazies” has plenty of original moments, such as a scene in a car wash that turns out to be a frantic exercise in survival, a sequence when the mental health of one of the good guys comes into serious doubt, and a frightening fight in a mortuary involving a runaway bone saw. This film has a traditional three-act structure, but the second act is best not revealed here other than to say the nature of the “monsters” switches in an unexpected way and keeps the viewer involved until the fade-out, which does not do justice to the excellent buildup. Rated R, “The Crazies” is an above-average horror thriller. Rather than merely an exercise in bloody killings, it tells a cautionary tale of how fragile humans are and how easily a familiar, comfortable world can turn into a nightmare. sci-fi author. “The Box” is available in Blu-ray and DVD formats. “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (Warner Home Video) is an animated version of the 1967 stage musical and features the Peanuts gang created by Charles M. Schulz: Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, Snoopy, and the rest. This 1985 TV special is available for the first time on DVD in a re-mastered deluxe edition. Rather than a single narrative, the show is made up of vignettes, much like the daily comic strips that inspired it, accompanied by songs. The episodes are tied together by Charlie Brown’s eternally poor self image. Highlights include “Schroeder,” in which the piano virtuoso plunks out Beethoven as Lucy contemplates wedded bliss; “Suppertime,” Snoopy’s ode to the highlight of a canine’s day; “Book Report,” an ensemble number; and the anthem to optimism, “Happiness.” The sole extra is “Animating a Charlie Brown Musical,” which explores the 20-year journey from record album to off-Broadway hit to animated television special. “Bugs Bunny’s Cupid Capers” (Warner Home Video) is a compilation of classic Looney Tunes made between 1948 and 1953. The collection includes “Hare Trimmed,” “The Grey-Hounded Hare,” “The Super Snooper,” “Rabbit Romeo,” “Wild over You,” “Of Rice and Hen,” and “Devil May Hare.” Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam, Tweety, Sylvester, The Roadrunner, Daffy Duck, and Pepe LePew join Bugs in these animated romps. The Warners animators were known for their gag-filled cartoons and strived for laughs above all. Produced originally to accompany feature films geared toward adults, the shorts achieved renewed life and popularity when they turned up on children’s television shows in the 1950s and 1960s. They hold up remarkably well, through parents should be aware that some contain violent slapstick. Two bonus cartoons, “Holiday Highlight” and “Past Performance,” are included. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You’re feeling a bit disconnected from the world lately, Aries. It’s nothing to worry about. You just need some time alone and then you’ll reacquaint yourself with the status quo. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 21 TAURUS - Apr 21/May You’re feeling a curb your suddenfrom It’s best if you bit disconnected feelthe world lately, Aries. It’sYou can put ing of aggression, Taurus. nothing to worry about. You just need some time the energy to better use. Make a list of alone and then you’ll reacquaint yourthings tothe status quo.work. self with do and get to TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 It’s best if you curb your sudden feelWrite a thank you note to can put ing of aggression, Taurus. Yousomeone the energy to betterause. Make a list of who has done you favor lately, Gemthings to best if you to work. ini. It is do and get try to rekindle for- DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) movie’s political and social context. In “The Box” (Warner Home Video), mysterious stranger Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) delivers a box to Arthur (James Marsden) and Norma (Cameron Diaz), a couple in financial difficulties. Steward leaves the box and a key to a button within it and explains they have will have it for 24 hours. If they press the button, a person they do not know somewhere in the world will die and they will receive a million dollars. The movie is an interesting psychological story as the couple debates the pros and cons of the offer, weighing morality against their personal happiness. The premise of the film is intriguing and keeps the viewer riveted as developments take unexpected turns. Frank Langella, fresh from his triumph in “Frost/ Nixon,” has a supporting role, but is a dominant presence. Is he a villain, merely a messenger from some higher authority, or a metaphoric figure? Marsden is fine as the husband, but Diaz has the key role here, and she is effective and believable. “The Box” is based on the short story “Button, Button,” by Richard Matheson. Expanding a short story into a feature film runs the risk of padding the movie with needless scenes and excessive exposition. Director Richard Kelly avoids this by keeping the suspense level high. Matheson was a regular contributor to the original “Twilight Zone” series. “The Box” is reminiscent of one of those episodes and packs a definite dramatic wallop. Extras include featurettes on the film’s visual effects and how director Kelly used family experiences to adapt the story to the screen; director commentary; and “Richard Matheson: In His Own Words,” an interview with the GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Write a thank you note to someone CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 who has done you a favor lately, GemTime and distance are no match for ini. It is best if you try to rekindle forCancers who A valuable extensive mer friendships. work their one needs connections. You are definitely a perto be reinforced this week. mer friendships. A valuable one needs to be reinforced this week. smile proves you’re on 22 CANCER - Jun 22/Jul top. Time and distance are no match for CancersJul 23/Aug 23their extensive LEO - who work connections. You are definitely a perIn a clash of wills this week, Leo, you son who knows how to network. Your will come out the loser. Your opponent smile proves you’re on top. fair fight is has so much power that a LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 high. In a clash of wills this week, Leo, you will come out the loser. Your opponent VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept a fair fight is has so much power that 22 It’s a rare day when you have all head impossible. Walk away with your of the answers, Virgo. It’s best if you seek high. son who knows how to network. Your impossible. Walk away with your head big decision. Work relations VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 improve. It’s a rare day when you have all of the answers, Virgo. It’s best if you seek the advice Sept 23/Oct 23it comes to a LIBRA - of others when big decision. Work relationsthat caters You can’t find a system improve. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 go can’t find a system that caters You your way. Keep activities simple this week. solely to your needs, Libra. You have to admit that sometimes things won’t SCORPIO - Keep activities go your way. Oct 24/Nov 22 simple Your senses are alive, Scorpio, and this week. SCORPIO - change at work and others on a path of Oct 24/Nov 22 Your senses to follow your lead -- with are inspired are alive, Scorpio, and you’re feeling invincible. You embark varying degrees of success. on a path of change at work and others are inspired to follow your lead -- with SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 varying degrees of success. the advice of others when it comes to a solely to your needs, Libra. You have to admit that sometimes things won’t you’re feeling invincible. You embark won’t take much - Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS for people to warm up to you. Consider week, Sagittarius. It Less is more this curbing any spending and concentrate strictly on investment won’t take much for people to warm up opportunities. to you. Consider curbing any spending and concentrate strictly on investment opportunities. - Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 working relationship, friendship or Expect positive developments speak romance, Capricorn. Actions in a workingthan words for you this week, louder relationship, friendship or romance, Capricorn. Actions speak so move forward. louder than words for you this week, so move forward. Less is more this week, Sagittarius. It Expect positive developments in a Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Don’t start any new projects this AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 week, Aquarius. You are known to give up Don’t start any new projects this week, on things a tad too easily to give alAquarius. You are known and you up on things a tad tooon yourand you already have plenty easily plate. ready have plenty on your plate. PISCES - Feba19/Marlove and advenYour world is mix of 20 Your world is a mix of love and adventure this week, Pisces. Impulse runs ture this week, Pisces. Impulse runs wild, but it never steers you wrong. wild, but it never steers you wrong. Sharethe fun with others. Share the fun with others. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20