Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment
“Go Indy Go!”

It was great to see Indiana Jones back in movie theaters this summer and now, finally, we get to see him on DVD too. But believe me the wait has been worth it. The fourth film in the series, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is an action packed adventure that thrills on all levels. It has excitement, romance, humor and amazing special effects. Plus it has the reuniting of Indy (Harrison Ford) and Marion (Karen Allen). What more could you ask for!

The film has a walloping opening scene with Indy and his friend Mac (Ray Winstone) being captured by the Russians. The time is the 1950’s and the “cold war” is raging. The Russians take over an Army Base in the American desert and force Indy and Mac to help them find a mysterious artifact. This introduces the audience to the “crystal skull” which plays a prominent role in the plot of the film.

Later Indy is contacted by a young man named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf). He tells Indy his mother told him to contact the archeologist/professor. She, along with a Professor Oxley (John Hurt), is in trouble. Indy agrees to help and he and Mutt fly to South America where Indy discovers Mutt’s mother is his old love Marion.

At this point the movie goes into overdrive and the rest is pure adventure and fun. Indy has two able sidekicks in Marion and Mutt, and he has a worthy opponent in the evil Russian officer Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). As Indy races Spalko to find the “kingdom of the crystal skull” the viewer is drawn into one epic thrill contest after another.

Ford is at the top of his game as Indiana Jones. He settles into his fedora and leather jacket like he has never been gone. He can still crack a mean whip and he still has that sideways smile and quick quip on his lips. And if you think he is not up to the physicality of the role, forget about it!

Allen has a more mature beauty about her now but she is still the same feisty Marion we met and loved in the first film of the series. If ever there was a woman who is the equal of Indiana Jones it is Marion.

LaBeouf and Ford have the same sniping relationship with each other that Sean Connery and Ford had in the third film in the series. Connery played Jones’ father in that movie and he is referred to in this film. It is a shame Connery did not make a cameo appearance. He is missed.

Blanchett is pure evil as Spalko and almost hisses when she walks. She adds potent power to the film by being such a great opponent for Indiana Jones. Blanchett gets absorbed by each of her roles and she is immersed totally in Spalko.

If ever a movie was the perfect action film it is this one. It holds your attention for the full running length of two hours and fifteen minutes. Then when it is over you feel refreshed and energized by such a fun time.

Ford, Allen, LaBeouf and Blanchett are all perfectly cast, and each makes his/her role count towards the sum of the entertainment value. Throw in the brilliance of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg overseeing it all and you have movie magic of the first tier.

It may have been a long wait but that wait is over. Indiana Jones and the gang are back and in a movie that will satisfy all ages and all sexes. It is the kind of movie you have been hoping and praying for and this one delivers the goods.

Kim Edward’s book THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER was a huge best seller last year. It was on the New York Times Best Seller list for over eighty weeks. Now it comes to DVD in an original movie starring Dermott Mulroney, Emily Watson and Gretchen Mol. Its plot concerns a man who secretly gives away his mongoloid daughter and the film is both engrossing and heart-breaking.

Dr. David Henry (Mulroney) and his wife Nora (Mol) are delighted at the thought of having their first child. They have made arrangements with the local doctor to deliver the baby, but when Nora goes into labor during a snowstorm David ends up delivering it at the local clinic. He is assisted by Nurse Caroline Gill (Watson). 

Their son is born and is perfectly fine, but then a second baby arrives and it is a girl. David recognizes immediately that she is a mongoloid baby. While his wife is sleeping he tells Caroline to take the baby to an institution nearby. Then when his wife wakes up he tells her the baby girl died.

This sets off a string of tragedies that permeate David and Nora’s lives. Neither ever really recovers from the “death” of the baby and their son Paul also feels the loss of his sister. But a day of reckoning is coming that will challenge all of their lives.

This is a very serious project and much care has been taken to bring this book to the screen with excellence. Mulroney, Mol and Watson are all very good in their roles with Watson being the most outstanding. She makes Caroline’s actions understandable and acceptable.

Mulroney and Mol’s acting skills come into play big time when they paint a picture of a couple whose marriage is coming apart at the seams. The loneliness of two people living with secrets is carefully delineated by these two fine actors.

The plot of the book guarantees a story that will touch the heart. Thank goodness attitudes about “special children” have changed. This movie shows how far we have come in our understanding and treatment of them.

THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER is a movie you will not want to miss. Get the DVD and see the book come to life.

Stephen Rea is an excellent actor and he uses his talent in creating a suspenseful perhaps evil character in “The Devil’s Mercy.” This movie, now out on DVD, is all about a man and his niece who live one floor down from the nice young couple who just moved to the house. It doesn’t take long for strange things to begin happening and soon the couple finds themselves face to face with evil.

Rea is scarily believable in his role and Michael Cram and Deborah Valente are good as the young couple. Watch this one with some0one you trust because it gets a little scary before it ends. Still with Halloween coming up this is the perfect DVD for a cool fall night.

On a more romantic and calming note is a movie titled “The Note.” Genie Francis and Ted McGinley co-star as a columnist and her co-worker who seek to find out the story behind a note. This note was discovered after a plane crash in which all aboard were lost. The writer penned it when he knew he was facing death.

The movie is based on the book by Angela Hunt and the movie stays true to the book’s plot. An interview with Hunt is part of the DVD “extras.” You can enjoy all the treats on the DVD of “The Note,” especially the film itself.

“30 Rock” may not be the highest rated show on TV but it is certainly the most talked about in the media and among individuals. If you want to see what all the chatter is about then pick up the DVD titled “30 Rock: Season 2.”

Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin lead a cast of great regulars, including Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan and Jack McBrayer. There are also a large number of comic guest stars who excel on this show. These include Elaine Stritch, Carrie Fisher and Tim Conway.

Fey and Baldwin are at the top of their game and this show has been a great showcase for their talent. So get “30 Rock: Season 2” and see what all the fuss is about.

And for the kids, and truly for the whole family, comes the 50th anniversary edition of Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty.” This classic Disney animated film looks brand new as it weaves its spell of love and danger set against the backdrop of Tchaikovsky’s amazing musical score.

The DVD also has all the now requisite “extras” for a Disney disc. Your children can spend hours exploring everything that is there. So get the DVD and let the magic of “Sleeping Beauty” fill your home.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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