'Across The Universe' (PG-13): Whether you're a fan of The Beatles or not, the musical opus "Across the Universe" is one film that you simply can't let be. Sometimes simple and sometimes super-psychedelic, director Julie Taymor's masterfully-constructed love story set amid the turbulent Vietnam War protest-era is an awe-inspiring tale from the very first note.

With characters' names plucked from different songs and a smattering of visual cues and lyrical references in the dialogue throughout, "Across the Universe" follows the relationships of a group of friends in the 1960s. It keys in on the love affair between a Liverpool-import Jude (British actor Jim Sturgess) and high-school graduate Lucy (Rachel Evan Wood), but also follows the paths of Lucy's college-dropout older brother Max (Joe Anderson), and their friends Sadie (Dana Fuchs), Jo-Jo (Martin Luther McCoy) and Prudence (T.V. Carpio).

More than 30 songs in all from The Beatles' expansive catalog drive the narrative, as the stories of the characters are told through such classics as "All My Loving," "Let it Be," "Something," "All You Need is Love" and most appropriately, "Across the Universe."

Using The Beatles' music to tell a story on film is tricky proposition that fell flat on its face before, most notably with the ill-fated Bee Gees-Peter Frampton musical "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." But under Taymor's direction, the characters make each make the music their own and as a result, a wonderfully engaging story emerges. The great thing is, the focus of the story -- sometimes weaved within actual historical events -- never gets lost in what could at the very least be described as a complex production. Even when the film takes the avant-garde route, it perfectly makes sense in the context of the film.

While it features cameos from such rock stalwarts as Bono (in a trippy scene singing "I Am the Walrus") and Joe Cocker (giving a soulful life to "Come Together,"), "Across the Universe" is a phenomenal achievement in how it so effectively takes a stable of relatively unknown performers who in turn all deliver star-making performances. Chief among them is Sturgess, who not only looks and sounds like a young Paul McCartney, he's got incredible charisma and a singing voice to match it. Wood, who made her mark as the lead in "Thirteen," has grown into top-rate actress at age 20, and belts out songs like "It Won't Be Long" and "If I Fell" like a seasoned professional.

A musical marvel and a visual masterpiece, "Across the Universe" makes you realize that The Beatles' music is so much more about the music and lyrics: It's really become a part of who we are.

DVD features: The two-disc special edition features audio commentary by Taymor, extended musical sequences, a fascinating in-depth look into the creative process featuring Taymor and the cast, production featurettes and more. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

'The Brave One' (R): No matter how viewers accept the Jodie Foster revenge thriller "The Brave One," it should be, for the lack of better words, commended for its bravery. Of course, it's taking head-on the controversial subject matter of vigilantism. But also along the way, director Neil Jordan honors a script full of risky moves and makes no apologies for the brazen truthfulness that, given the touchy-feely "let's not offend anybody" nature of the business these days -- flies completely in the face of Hollywood convention.

That's because it places the weight of the heady proceedings on the shoulders of one individual and the moral consequences she suffers as a result of her actions. Instead of trying to dole out the blame for society's ills, "The Brave One" effectively places you in Erica Bain's (Foster) shoes, leaving you to ponder what you would do in her situation. And those thoughts aren't easy ones to shake after the credits begin to roll.

Erica is a public radio show host who records and gives observations on the streets of New York City. But that world is shattered when a gang of thugs brutally beats Erica and her boyfriend David (Naveen Andrews) -- leaving David dead and Erica clinging to life. Awakening from a coma to learn what's happened, she illegally purchases a handgun for protection. But once she's endangered, the weapon turns into a means of vengeance, as she starts to purge the city of any criminal that crosses her path.

Not surprisingly, "The Brave One" echoes the cinematic plights of the vengeful characters in "Taxi Driver" and "Death Wish," and dredges up the memories of real-life subway vigilante Bernie Goetz. That's not to say that Foster creates a carbon copy of any character or real-life individual, however.

In fact, Foster brings Erica to life in a subtle, intense and complex manner, making her gut-wrenching internal pain feel real. She's not the sort of character that locks and loads with belts of ammo with plans to come out with guns a-blazing -- but rather leads a guarded existence as a torn soul struggling to suppress the guilt of who she's become and the fear of whether or not she can stop herself.

DVD features: Deleted scenes, production featurette and more.

'The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford' (R): The title typifies the film -- it's long and drawn out. And that's a shame, considering that Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck (interview) deliver haunting performances about the legendary outlaw (Pitt) and his death at the hands of his footnote-in-history assassin (Affleck).

Director Andrew Dominik no doubt has an eye for shooting a mesmerizing landscape and finding the depth in his characters. He just needs to step it up a bit. The film would have had much more pop with an hour chopped off of its 2-hour 40-minute run time. (Warner Home Video)

DVD features: Apart from standard sound and language options, none.

Recent Releases

'The Game Plan' (PG): Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (interview) scores big as quarterback Joe Kingman in "The Game Plan," a fun family film that indulges Johnson's passion for football (an injury in college ended his NFL aspirations) and one that marks his final turn as "The Rock" (he's leaving his pro wrestling career identification behind for good).

Kingman is a self-involved all-star quarterback whose world is turned upside down when the 7-year-old daughter he never knew, Peyton (Madison Pettis), shows up one day on his doorstep and he must learn how to be a parent overnight.

"The Game Plan" gets off to an almost agonizing start, as it seems to be heading down the traditional screwball comedy route, where the adults are portrayed as bumbling fools and the kids are too smart for their own good.

But after Kingman stumbles his way through parenthood, something interesting happens about mid-way through the film. Johnson and director Andy Fickman pull a cinematic flea-flicker, where a seemingly predictable comedy tricks us and becomes a thoughtful, poignant comedy instead.

DVD Features: Bloopers, deleted scenes, production featurettes and more. (Walt Disney Home Entertainment)

'3:10 to Yuma" (R): Russell Crowe has no doubt earned a bad-boy reputation over the years with his antics off-screen. But when it comes to work he never phones it in, as he brilliantly demonstrates again in "3:10 to Yuma" -- an intense, action-packed shoot 'em up cowboy flick that proves the Western film genre has plenty of kick in it.

A remake of the 1957 classic of the same name, this "3:10" finds Crowe playing Ben Wade, a notorious outlaw who is captured in the small town of Bisbee, Ariz., after he and his gang rob a stagecoach containing the payroll of the Southern Pacific Railroads. Taking on the job of transporting Wade to the town of Contention – where he will be put on a train to a prison in Yuma, where he'll certainly be hanged -- is Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a struggling rancher who desperately needs the $200 fee to save his homestead.

The problem is, Wade is a plotting, ruthless criminal who can't be trusted by Evans and a crew of others as they transport him by horseback to Contention. Compounding the intensity is Wade's loyal gang, who will stop at nothing to free their boss.

Beautifully shot by director James Mangold, "3:10 to Yuma" has all the makings of a classic Western, with sprawling vistas, rusting sets and believable characters who actually look like they lived in the day. Particularly frightening is Ben Foster ("X-Men: The Last Stand") who plays Charlie Prince, Wade's ruthless right-hand man.

DVD features: The disc includes commentary by Mangold, deleted scenes and production featurettes. (Lions Gate Home Entertainment)