Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • February 12, 2014 DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) Extras on the Blu-ray edition include filmmaker com- mentary, several behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a digi- tal version. “The Jungle Book” (Disney), the nineteenth animated feature from the Disney Studio, is inspired by the works of Rudyard Kipling. Walt Disney based the characters on the literary originals, but made them lighter and more comical, in keeping with the Disney style. The large cast of animals is perfectly suited to the medium of animation and the film offers some memorable creatures. The film follows Mowgli (voice of Bruce Reitherman), a child raised by wolves in the jungles of India. As he grows older, the animals decide Mowgli must return to the human village. The black panther Bagheera (Sebastian Cabot) is put in charge of Mowgli’s return. Along the way, they are distracted by assorted colorful characters, including the relaxed bear Baloo (Phil Harris) and the mischievous orangutan King Louie (Louis Prima). “The Bare Necessi- ties,” performed by Baloo, became the movie’s signature song. This was the last film Disney himself had a hand in making. Bonuses on the two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack include a sing-along, alternate ending, special intro- ductions by Diane Disney Miller and songwriter Richard M. Sherman, and a digital version. “The Artist and the Model” (Cohen Media Group) takes place in 1943, in a lush corner of occupied France, not far from the Spanish border, where a famous old sculptor and painter, Marc Cros (Jean Rochefort), lives with his, wife Lea (Claudia Cardinale), safe from the war raging in the distance. Marc, who hobnobs with Cezanne and Matisse, seems to have reached the end of his life and his art. But when Lea comes upon Merce (Aida Folch), a beautiful young Spaniard who has escaped from a refugee camp, Lea instinctively sees that the raw, sensual girl is her husband’s favorite type of model and brings her home to give him fresh inspiration. Though initially cool toward each other, Marc and his new model slowly grow closer as the old man comes to realize she will be his final masterpiece. “The Artist and the Model” is a pleasant reflection on the bonds between art and life, neither overblown nor pedantic, and the black-and-white cinematography gives it a classic feel. Folch enlivens the film, just as her Merce wakes up Marc’s dormant artistic drive. In French, with English sub- titles, the movie is an excellent showcase for Rochefort and Cardinale. Blu-ray extras include an interview with direc- tor Fernando Trueba and a photo gallery. “Grace Unplugged” (Lionsgate) is the story of a teen- ager whose faith and family ties are tested when her dreams of becoming a music star start to come true. Grace (AJ Michalka) is struggling to find her own way in life. Her overly protective father (James Denton) wants Grace to attend college. Instead, she runs away from home to pursue a musical career. While her father trusts God to watch over his daughter, only Grace can decide if she will take the road leading to fame and fortune or find her way back to her family. Michalka’s acting here is strictly amateurish. Her habit of hitting key lines with exaggerated emphasis, to assure that viewers “get it,” quickly becomes irritating. Denton (“Desperate Housewives”) has the misfortune of playing a caricature of the domineering control-freak dad. The theme of faith that runs through the movie is heavy-handed and obvious, making the picture more a pro- paganda vehicle for religion than a compelling story. Special features on the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack include deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.