December 25, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 19 ‘Prisoners’ traces desperate search for missing child by Dennis Seuling “Prisoners” (Warner Home Video) is a gripping movie about the kidnapping and search for two missing children as a happy holiday get-together quickly turns into a nightmare. Friends Keller and Grace Dover (Hugh Jackman, Maria Bello) and Franklin and Nancy Birch (Terrence Howard, Viola Davis) have just enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner together with their families when they discover their two young girls have disappeared. The best clue is a camper that was parked in the vicinity. The police are contacted and Detective Loki (Jake Gyllen- haal) heads the case. Soon afterward, the camper is located and its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), is arrested. Alex, however, appears to be simple- minded and denies any involvement in the girls’ disappearance. There is no evidence in the camper, and nothing solid tying him to the abduction. He is released into the cus- tody of his aunt after 48 hours. Distressed, frustrated with the investi- gation, and knowing that every hour that passes reduces the chance of the safe return of his daughter, Dover decides to take mat- ters into his own hands. Jackman shows an impressive range of emotion as a distraught father refusing to accept assurances and admonitions that the police will do everything possible to see that his daughter will be returned safely. There is desperation, anger, and an unfath- omable sadness in his portrayal. Gyllenhaal’s Detective Loki is the con- necting device among the movie’s many subplots and characters. Dedicated and moved by Dover’s passion, he extends him- self to keep an eye on the chief suspect, Alex, even after he has been released from police custody. The movie contrasts Loki’s lawful, systematic methods with Dover’s unorthodox means to the same end. The mood of the movie is somber, and many scenes were filmed in heavily clouded skies or even in downpours. Roger Deak- ins’ cinematography gives the film a gray palette, which underscores the dark nature of the story. “Prisoners,” rated R for strong scenes of violence, is a solidly scripted picture. The story is captivating, suspenseful, and com- pletely involving. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is convinced that Alex Jones (Paul Dano) has kidnapped his daughter in ‘Prisoners.’ Bonuses on the two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack include a discussion by Jack- man and Gyllenhaal about the characters they portray, and a making-of featurette. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (Paramount) makes its bow on Blu-ray for the first time as an individual release. In this 1981 fea- ture that began a four-feature franchise, Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones, a pro- fessor of archaeology and adventurer in the mold of the heroes of movie serials from the ‘30s through the early ‘50s. Jones is in the jungles of South America searching for a golden statue when he springs a lethal trap. He miraculously escapes and later hears from a museum curator about a bibli- cal artifact, the Ark of the Covenant, that holds mystical power. His quest takes him to Nepal and Egypt to find the artifact, but he has to confront his enemy Renee Belloq (Paul Freeman) and a band of Nazis in order to reach it. Director Steven Spiel- berg has blended action, wit, and adventure into this well-paced film. It is an exciting, even exhilarating movie with lots of (continued on Crossword page)