Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 24, 2011 ‘The Help’ (continued from Entertainment page) bigoted Southern belle given to hissy fits. Because her portrayal borders on burlesque, especially in the film’s second half, the viewer never really gets inside her head to understand a way of life she accepts as natural and right. Director Tate Taylor has crafted a beautiful-looking movie, from the dusty roads of rural Mississippi to the impeccable homes of the white families, to the rundown shacks the maids call home. There are a few scenes of unanticipated violence that underscore how the police treat blacks and show that being out alone on certain nights can indeed be perilous for a black person. Rated PG-13 for some violence, “The Help” is a welcome alternative to the comic book characters, broad comedies, animated flicks, and unnecessary 3D pictures turned out by Hollywood this summer. If you put characterization and story high on your list of cinematic priorities, “The Help” is your kind of film. quickly learn they must join forces to survive. Chan is great fun to watch and it always seems he has actually suffered for his art. His stunts get wilder and more dangerous even as the years add lines to his face. Bonus features on the Blu-ray or DVD release include a music video, trailers, and a making-of featurette. “NCIS: The Eighth Season” and “NCIS Los Angeles: The Second Season” (Paramount Home Entertainment) are about apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals who pose a threat to national security. The “NCIS: Eighth Season” box set contains six discs with 24 episodes starring Mark Harmon that follow a team of elite special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service whose mission is to investigate crimes connected to armed forces personnel. Extras include featurettes about special effects, questions from fans, a conversation with the show’s technical advisor, and an overview of Season 8. “NCIS Los Angeles: The Second Season” focuses on a team that assumes false identities and utilizes the most advanced technology to go undercover, putting their lives on the line to bring down their targets. Think “Mission: Impossible” with more dialogue. The show stars Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J, and Linda Hunt. The six-disc set contains 24 episodes. Bonus features include the cast and crew exchanging thoughts on the second season and an exploration of the past of Hetty Lange (Hunt’s character). DVDs (continued from page 19) making low-budget sequels to successful animated motion pictures. “Bambi” (1942) was Disney’s fifth animated feature. “Bambi II” reunites the title character with Owl, Flower, and Faline, and introduces some new characters. Bambi reunites with his father, the Great Prince, who must now raise the young fawn and teach him the ways of the forest. The proud parent discovers that there is much that he can learn from his spirited young son. The film is illustrated in an animation style that closely mirrors the original, and contains new songs. The two-disc special edition contains Blu-ray, DVD, interactive games, deleted songs, a making-of featurette, and facts about the movie. “Little Big Soldier” (Well Go USA) stars Jackie Chan in a wild ride of a martial-arts action comedy. Set in the war period in China between 476 B.C. and 221 B.C., the film is about a soldier (Chan) and a general (Wang Leehom) from opposing states who also have opposing views on the war and the world. A painful yet comical journey commences when the soldier decides to abduct the downtrodden general and return him to his state in high hopes of collecting a reward. When the two are confronted by danger, they