Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 4, 2011 ‘Water for Elephants’ (continued from Entertainment page) and immediately wonder what consequences they will face at the hands of August. In 1952, another circus picture, “The Greatest Show on Earth,” told a backstage tale of life in the circus on a grander scale. The director, after all, was Cecil B. DeMille. “Water for Elephants” keeps the spectacle to a minimum, focusing more on the three main characters. This is not a movie that trots out one circus act after another, yet you can practically smell the mixture of sawdust, popcorn, and sweat. Director Francis Lawrence has crafted a very good picture from a script by Richard LaGravanese, based on Sara Gruen’s best-selling novel. Rated PG-13, “Water for Elephants” is the kind of movie that used to be Hollywood’s bread and butter. It’s refreshing to watch a film about real people rather than plot devices to transition from one explosion to the next. “El Topo” (Anchor Bay), long enmeshed in litigation, finally makes its bow on Blu-ray. Originally released in 1971, this strange Western perplexed moviegoers and still will cause some head scratching, though the movie has become a huge cult classic over the past 40 years. The film pays homage to the spaghetti Westerns of the late ‘60’s and early ‘70s while incorporating curious religious symbolism and grotesque imagery. It is not for everyone. Alejandro Jodorowsky directed, wrote the screenplay, composed the music, and starred as the title character, a mysterious gunfighter in black who roams the Mexican desert. El Topo is accompanied for much of the film by his son, who learns several brutal lessons about growing up. Among other things, the boy witnesses firsthand how his father deals with a corrupt Mexican army colonel (David Silva), who has been terrorizing local villages. “El Topo” is unrated and contains graphic scenes of extreme violence, nudity, simulated sex, and strong language. The Blu-ray edition includes an interview with Jodorowsky, and a photo gallery with script excerpts. by G.M. Smith by G.M. Smith ARIES --Mar 21/Apr 20 ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Don’t take aa loved one’s harsh words Don’t take loved one’s harsh words to heart, Aries. He or she is going to heart, Aries. He or she is going through aarough time and just needs to through rough time and just needs to vent aa little. Things will blow over by vent little. Things will blow over by early next week. early next week. TAURUS --Apr 21/May 21 TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Don’t try to force your views onto othDon’t try to force your views onto others, Taurus. Everyone is entitled to his ers, Taurus. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions. A family friend or her own opinions. A family friend drops by unexpectedly. Don’t rush this drops by unexpectedly. Don’t rush this person out the door. person out the door. GEMINI --May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 When it comes to aa heart-to-heart talk When it comes to heart-to-heart talk with aaloved one, be blunt. That special with loved one, be blunt. That special someone has an important question for someone has an important question for you. Be truthful, but also assist with you. Be truthful, but also assist with the decision made. the decision made. CANCER --Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER Jun 22/Jul 22 While you need to show your authority While you need to show your authority at work, don’t step on too many toes. at work, don’t step on too many toes. Show your coworkers some compasShow your coworkers some compassion. A friend asks aafavor of you. sion. A friend asks favor of you. LEO --Jul 23/Aug 23 LEO Jul 23/Aug 23 Don’t be possessive when it comes to aa Don’t be possessive when it comes to special someone, Leo. He or she truly special someone, Leo. He or she truly cares for you, but also needs some time cares for you, but also needs some time alone. You give financial advice to aa alone. You give financial advice to close friend. close friend. VIRGO --Aug 24/Sept 22 VIRGO Aug 24/Sept 22 You get caught in the middle of aa disYou get caught in the middle of disagreement between colleagues early agreement between colleagues early in the week, Virgo. While you didn’t in the week, Virgo. While you didn’t want to get involved, help them work want to get involved, help them work through the issue. through the issue. LIBRA --Sept 23/Oct 23 LIBRA Sept 23/Oct 23 One day this week, coworkers will One day this week, coworkers will need your help with aaproject. A loved need your help with project. A loved one monopolizes your time during the one monopolizes your time during the evening. Don’t worry; the weekend is evening. Don’t worry; the weekend is yours alone. yours alone. SCORPIO --Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO Oct 24/Nov 22 While you like to be in charge, that’s While you like to be in charge, that’s not how things work early in the week. not how things work early in the week. Let someone else take control when it Let someone else take control when it comes to aa business problem. Pay atcomes to business problem. Pay attention, and learn. tention, and learn. SAGITTARIUS --Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS Nov 23/Dec 21 A lot of people are depending on you A lot of people are depending on you this week, Sagittarius. Consider what this week, Sagittarius. Consider what is best for everyone involved -- even if is best for everyone involved -- even if you must make some compromises. you must make some compromises. CAPRICORN --Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN Dec 22/Jan 20 You have aa lot on your mind, CapriYou have lot on your mind, Capricorn. If you’re nervous, talk to aatrustcorn. If you’re nervous, talk to trusted friend. Things will quiet down by ed friend. Things will quiet down by Friday, leaving you time to enjoy your Friday, leaving you time to enjoy your weekend. weekend. AQUARIUS --Jan 21/Feb 18 AQUARIUS Jan 21/Feb 18 Try to take it easy this week, Aquarius. Try to take it easy this week, Aquarius. You’ve been busy for aa while. Now You’ve been busy for while. Now that you have aa break, enjoy yourself. that you have break, enjoy yourself. Be supportive of aa loved one who Be supportive of loved one who needs your help. needs your help. PISCES --Feb 19/Mar20 PISCES Feb 19/Mar20 That special someone has aa surprise That special someone has surprise for you. Don’t accept it if you’re havfor you. Don’t accept it if you’re having second thoughts about the relationing second thoughts about the relationship. Consider it deeply. ship. Consider it deeply. DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) Michel Gondry, the film’s stunt team, editing, and casting the role of Kato. “Bob Dylan Revealed” (MVD Visual) is an overview of the life and five-decade career of the singer, who will turn 70 this month. The film is broken down into sections, each focusing on a particular stage in Dylan’s life. The 1974-79 period -- the most completely covered -- deals with Dylan’s comeback tour, his adoption of Christianity, his three gospel albums, and his return to Judaism. The concluding section, “Never Ending Tour,” covers Dylan from 1992 to the present. The documentary is top-heavy with anecdotal material, and short on actual performance footage. Where video is not used, there are stills to fill in visually. The film is an interesting, if not all-encompassing, portrait of an artist who helped change the course of pop music. FINLEY FINLEY Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle