Two recent DVD releases deserve the attention of any serious movie buff. They are both films that deal with darkness of the soul, but one is depressing while the other is highly entertaining. Let's start with THE ORPHANAGE, a follow-up to the brilliant PAN'S LABYRINTH from last year. This time the Spanish director is the producer, but his style and interests are evident everywhere from the riveting tracking shots through the old mansion where the action takes place to the lead actress's painfully empathetic performance as a mother seeking a lost child. Did I say this was entertaining? You bet! The film owes much of its impact to Hitchcock mysteries but particularly to films like THE INNOCENTS(with a beautifully etched performance by Deborah Kerr), an early 1960's version of Henry James' THE TURN OF THE SCREW. Both films explore the neuroses, desires, and maternal instincts of women on the edge.

The second film is IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH, another of the numerous Iraq-based films that has failed to find an audience in the U.S. The disconnect between what is happening in that god-forsaken country and how we live here is laid bare in this strong drama about a father attempting to discover the truth about his son's death on a military base. Tommy Lee Jones delivers one of his most searing and understated performances. He is ably supported by Susan Sarandon as his wife and a number of young actors, some of whom are Iraq veterans, as members of his son's squad. IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH questions not only why we are in Iraq but what this war has done to our young men and women physically, morally, and psychologically. When will we wake up as a nation? That's what this film wants to know!

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Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy summer!

The onslaught of summer movie blockbusters is meant to stun us, knock us to the ground, and grind our critical responses to pulp. And sometimes that happens. Consider the latest three powerhouse features, eliminating the flashy and empty SPEED RACER. First out of the block was the refreshingly bracing IRON MAN, another comic book pumped up for the screen. Though it has its young male requirements of explosions, gadgetry, and speed, this tale also features a new type of hero--a spoiled, brilliant billionaire inventor who finds his soul when he is captured by terrorists in a country whose name ends in "stan." Realizing that he is responsible for much of the world's destruction, our hero creates an incredible iron suit with every gadget possible, and some of the most entertaining scenes show his awkward attempts to make his new suit take off. Robert Downey, Jr., an actor of great ability and tons of personal baggage, is the perfect choice for our inventor. His cynicsm and lack of commitment are a perfect balance for all the heroics he must perform as Iron Man. Gwynneth Paltrow as his trusty and loving assistant and Jeff Bridges as his smarmy and untrustworthy second in command play their parts with no tongue in cheek, making them even more fun.

PRINCE CASPIAN, the second of the Narnia films, is far more serious and action-packed than the first installment. The Pivensey children are still charming in their clipped, no-nonsense English way, but the choice for Prince Caspian is a toss-up. He is fine for the teen girls, but in the novel he is 13. Here he is at least 20, so he seems out of sync with the kids on screen, especially when he attempts his serious lines with any emotion. One moment reminds us why the first episode was more fun: the return of the Ice Queen, played again by Oscar winner Tilda Swinton. Sheathed in icy white make-up and encased in a sculptured ice tomb, Swinton provides the movie with its most delicious moment. We almost hope the Prince will take her offer. Instead we have to sit through endless battles (at least they are bloodless) before order is restored to Narnia.

INDIANA JONES AND THE SEARCH FOR THE CRYSTAL SKULL comes 19 years after the third installment of the popular series. Some critics have carped over its lack of inventiveness, but I found it thoroughly entertaining. Why? Because Spielberg has brought two wonderful women to the show, and they practically steal it. Karen Allen, whose spunky, hard-drinking
Marion in the original RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, again provides a romantic foil for Jones, while taking much of the heroics. As the villainous Communist leader, Kate Blanchett, sporting a severe black page boy wig, opts for the kind of villain seen in 1930's serials like FLASH GORDON, all steel and party line. The action includes a fencing match between Blanchett and Jones' sidekick Shia LeBouef astride two speeding jeeps in the jungle and a motorcycle chase through the Yale campus. The ending may be a bit hokey, but with our interest in THE X-FILES (spoiler alert) it works, as does most of the film.

Tell it like it is and LOSE.

The latest flak in the Clinton-Obama race to defeat comes with Obama's unjudged remarks about Pennsylvania voters (and in extension, all working class voters). He suggested this weekend that these blue collar voters are "bitter" because jobs are gone, factories closed, and times are hard. In that bitterness they have retreated to religion, guns, and anti-immigration. Of course, he forgot to mention gay marriage, among other working class fears. Now, have I dropped enough verbal land mines for you? When you use terms like "elite," "working class," and "blue collar," you don't stand a chance. Some will damn you for "elitism." Some will charge you with insensitivity to those who should be equal. Here's the corker, gang. Barack Obama has said what happens to be true in many cases. No one can speak for everyone in a group, but what Obama says has so much truth that it hurts. And it hurts his political chances. We know that some people entrench themselves in religion, the past, their right to wave guns, and their fear of anything different. Obama has suggested that with his comments. But his political correctness could be his undoing in the long run.

I Promise not to drink when I bring my gun to Denny's

As much as I love the state of Georgia, sometimes it becomes almost impossible. Our state legislature closed its latest comedy club or session with a new law that enables one to pack heat in a public restaurant or stadium. Now let's see, I'm a rabid Braves fan and I think the ump has gone to far for the last time. Or I am really scorched by this loudmouth in the booth behind me who keeps extolling Bush's leadership abilities. Instead of shamefully sneaking away, I can just pull my automatic and put an end to the problem. Justifiable homicide? You tell me. There is one caveat with this liberating law, and that is that you must promise NOT TO DRINK in a public place while packing heat. So I'm going to the Road House in the north Georgia hills, and I ain't packin' heat?! C'mon, dude.

Spring and the Future

Is April the cruelest month, as the poet said? I doubt it when I look at the dogwoods, cherry trees, weeping cherries, daffodils, sweet williams and budding roses. Yes, despite Georgia's drought, much of nature is coming back and making us grateful for spring's rebirth. As I sit here swooning to the Love/Death music from Tristan and Isolde, I am almost able to forget the miserable way our beloved Democrat party is shooting itself in the foot once again. With so many able candidates and a lame GOP candidate, is it possible or even probable that we will lose again? Actually, I don't think so. But let us hope that Hilary, Obama, and the secret forces that run these things can get this mess behind us so we can unite and win back this country from the neo-cons, the right-wing nuts, the hawks, the contractors, the fundamental "Christianists" and all the other kooks that are tearing us apart. Yes, Spring is a time of rebirth and hope, but it also a time for work!

Odds and Ends, mostly odds

I have been watching a recording of the Met's recent version of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. The singing, particularly the two female leads, is magnificent as is the orchestra. However, the set and overall design is creative mess. For some odd reason, the designer or director decided to modernize the German fairy tale. It's now in English, which works well, but it's also contemporary. When the witch mixes up batter, she uses a mix master. Now the witch is an obvious drag queen, complete with hairy arms and fake bosoms. Try as they might, the Met cannot pull this one off. The walking trees and giant-headed chefs seem arbitrary, and the scene at the witch's kitchen is downright ghoulish like a meat pie from Sweeney Todd.

Another odd note is 10,000 Years B.C. Since it has no connection to pre-history or any period, we tend to forgive its goofiness. Our pre-historic hero and heroine are squeaky clean with teeth out of Crest commercial. There's some kind of giant chicken who reminds us of old films with such creatures. At the end we are robbing Apocalypto and Conan the Barbarian with a giant sacrificial pyramid, slaves with lime on their faces, and effete priests, all succumbing to our hero's leadership skills. Despite all this silliness, this is a fun, fast-moving adventure that never quits.