Poem of the Month

The 2023-24 season’s prices are $80 per adult membership and $20 per student membership for the six-concert the watchful eye of a great horned owl, This shoebox silently stores secrets sequestered seventy years, Walled away to protect a solivagant soul.

Hear the marsh wren’s song, the killdeer’s warning cry, As fireflies and full moon illuminate the night sky.

Buttered And Salty

‘Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny’

HHH

PG-13

2 hours, 34 minutes

Action, Adventure

Opens today in theaters

The first 20 minutes of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” are better than the entirety of 2008’s “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which should be a relief to longtime Indy fans like myself. That film committed the cardinal sin of being an uninspired bore. “Dial of Destiny” may drag a bit in the second act but it is never a bore. Thank goodness.

In the new adventure, opening today, archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history. Harrison Ford (who turns 81 next month) returns to arguably his most famous role one last time to don the hat and whip. This time, Dr. Henry Jones Jr. is a 70-year-old professor about to retire. He is a cranky, depressed man who sits in his New York apartment shrouded in loneliness and sadness about the state of his life. Frankly, I loved where we found the character in 1969. It gives him a character arc not usually found in these movies other than perhaps “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” where Indy learned to relate and bond with his father. Speaking of

Democrat correspondent

“Last Crusade,” that film is probably closest in tone to “Dial of Destiny,” which isn’t a bad thing. It’s not as funny (it doesn’t have Sean Connery anchoring the comedy, after all) or as good, but they share several similarities.

One of the biggest changes audiences will realize right off the bat is that this is the first film in the franchise not directed by Steven Spielberg. James Mangold (“Logan,”

“Ford v Ferrari,” “Walk the Line”) takes the reins and does a pretty darned good job. The film looks fantastic, with cinematographer Phedon Papamichael doing a great job of capturing the look and style of the original Indiana Jones films better than longtime Spielberg cameraman Janusz Kaminski (who did not photograph the original three films) did in 2008. If I’m being honest, as brilliant as Mr. Kaminki (“Schindler’s List,” “Minority Report”) is, when I watch “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’’ I see an overly photographed and artificial look that has nothing in common with the original three

$2500.00 more information visit applehill.com/events.

Shadow Ranch Vineyard in Fair Play hosts an Independence Day food and wine pairing, noon to 4 p.m. To make a reservation visit shadowranch.com/Events.

Mastroserio Winery in the Fair Play area hosts a birthday celebration for Rugerro, 1-4 p.m. Have Italian wood-fired pizza paired with a favorite wine and celebrate. To RSVP text (530) 417-4321.

Musician Ed Wilson will perform 5-8 p.m. at Red Rooster Burgers & Brew in Garden Valley.

Hattie Craven and Alex Jordan perform at The Green Room Social Club in Placerville, 8-11 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Thunder Cover performs at Red Hawk Casino’s Stage Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Seussical Kids,” July 1-23. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

Amador City hosts Dancin’ in the Streets parties, 6-9 p.m, with Route 88 scheduled as the next act. For more information visit the website, VisitAmacorCity.com.

Music in the Mountains presents “Toy Story” in concert, 6 p.m. at Western Gateway Park, Penn Valley. For tickets and more information visit musicinthemountains.org.

July 2 movies. This new film doesn’t have that problem. It’s beautifully shot and looks great. It indeed looks like an Indy film.

El Dorado Western Railroad offers train rides at the El Dorado Station, 4650 Oriental St., beginning at 10 a.m. the first and third Sundays of each month. Trains leave on the hour 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. Call ahead to ensure trains are running at (530) 663-3581.

Sierra Vista Winery hosts a food and wine pairing featuring its reserve Tiger Lily wines, noon to 3 p.m. For more information call (530) 622-7221 or visit sierravistawinery.com.

The cast is very good as well, with Mads Mikkelsen (“Hannibal”) playing the big Nazi bad, Dr. Voller.

Mikkelsen continues to harness a quiet power in his performances that is well suited for this world. Toby Jones (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) plays Indy’s friend Basil Shaw, who is featured in the flashback sequences of the film. Like most in this cast he is a new character but a welcome one.

Speaking of the flashback sequences, in which the film opens with, there has been a lot of talk about the “de-aging” of star Harrison Ford to give him the look of younger Indy during the end of World War II for that opening sequence.

I’ve seen other critics compare it to the characters on “The Polar Express.” This doesn’t look creepy like that at all. It’s well done, if not a bit artificial. The technology, while not perfect by any means, has come a long way in the last 10 years. We may be looking at an effect but we also feel like we are watching a 40-something year old Indy punch Nazis.

The biggest addition to the cast is the wonderful Phoebe WallerBridge (“Fleabag”) as goddaughter and archaeology graduate Helena Shaw. I recall years ago that Frank Darabont (“The Shawshank Redemption”) wrote a draft of the Indy 4 script in which Indy had to travel around the globe with his daughter. Steven Spielberg called the script the best he’d read since “Raider of the Lost Ark.” Unfortunately, for several reasons, that script wasn’t produced and instead we got “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” with

Terra D’Oro in Plymouth hosts the 13th annual Cru-Zin in the Vineyard, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For tickets and more information email info@ terradorowinery.com.

July 3

The Rancho Cordova Fourth of July celebration takes place July 3 & 4 at Hagan Park with concerts, a drone show, fireworks, a parade and more. For more information visit ranchocordovajuly4th.com.

July 4

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts a 4th of July party at the community pool in El Dorado Hills, 1-4 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon filled with games, music, snacks and swimming (regular pool admission).

July 5

Vitalant will hold an El Dorado Hills Stadium 14 & IMAX Theater blood drive, 12:30-4:30 p.m. The Bloodmobile will be parked near the movie theater on the north side on Vine Street. Make an appointment at donors.vitalant.org and use blood drive code SMFM486 or call (877) 2584825 and mention blood drive code SMFM486. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows.

Celebrate Hump Day with Matt Rainey at The Green Room Social Club in Placerville, 6-9 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

B Street Theatre at The Sofia in Sacramento presents “Insertion,” July 5 through Aug. 13. For tickets and more information call (916) 4435300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

July 8

Enjoy live music and good food for a great cause benefitting American River Conservancy’s Resilience Reserve. In partnership with Marco’s Cafe, ARC hosts a series of outdoor concerts featuring local bands at the quaint farmhouse of Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville. The gate opens at 5:30

Indy fighting alongside his son, played by Shia LaBeouf. I always thought the dynamic of Dr. Jones partnering up with a daughter figure was a more intriguing possibility, however, and this is pretty much what we get here. Waller-Bridge fits into this world well and is a great foil to her aging godfather.

While there aren’t cringe worthy moments in the script like Indy being nuked and protected in a refrigerator during a nuclear bomb test in the last film (which inspired the phrase “nuking the fridge,” now used to describe the declining point of a film franchise as a result of its heavy reliance on special effects) or characters swinging with monkeys on vines in this film, the movie does take one, massive swing for the fences in the last 30 minutes of the film that might annoy longtime fans. Frankly, I quite liked it. When you watch through the franchise it’s not a long line to draw between this choice and ghosts flying out of religious relics and melting faces, stones that could give warmth and life but also be used for fiery destruction, cups that give everlasting life, the psychic properties of crystal skulls or anything found in the for each show. Matt Rainey & the Dippin Sauce Allstars perform next. Find more information and purchase tickets at bit.ly/ Concerts4CauseARC.

Now

The MACC in Rancho Cordova hosts 20 Years Making Magic – Celebration 20 Years of Cityhood through July 1. The exhibit features an art reception and exhibit, workshops, concerts, artist talks and more. For more information visit rcmacc.org.

Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents “Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties” through July 1. For tickets and more information call (916) 960-3036 or visit bigideatheatre.org.

Broadway at Music Circus presents Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” through July 2. For tickets and more information visit broadwaysacramento.com.

Main Street Theatre Works presents “The Quest for Don Quixote” through July 15, at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson. For tickets and more information visit mstw.org.

Watercolor Artists of Sacramento Horizons issues a call to artists for the 45th annual WASH open exhibit, Go with the Flow. Registration deadline is noon July 21. To enter visit smartentry.com/CallsForEntry.

Capital Stage in Sacramento presents “Predictor” through July 23. For tickets and more information call (916) 995-5464 or visit capstage.org.

The Salvation Army hosts its annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive through July 30. For information on how to donate to the campaign visit deloro.salvationarmy.org.

Arts and Culture El Dorado’s newest show, FIRE/ LAND: The Exhibition, runs through Aug. 6. For more information visit artsandcultureeldorado. org/fire-land-the-exhibition.

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento presents A Gathering, sculptural and functional ceramics from 35 Black American emerging and established artists living and working in the United States, through Aug. 20; Breaking the Rules, art of Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown, through Aug. 27; and Estamans de la Raza, contemporary screenprints and lithographs by by Chicanx and Latinx artists living and working in the United States, through Oct. 1. For tickets and more information visit crocker.org.

El Dorado County Certified Farmers Markets have begun Saturdays at Placerville Cinema on Placerville Drive, 8 to noon; Wednesdays at Burke Junction on Coach Lane in Cameron Park, 8 a.m. to noon; and Sundays at El Dorado Hills Town Center, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.