IT'S A STUNNING, GORY 'TITUS'.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

Almost lost amid the number of interesting films that came out at the end of last year was Julie Taymor's ``Titus,'' a vital and visually stunning adaptation of one of Shakespeare's early plays.

Taymor, who is currently in Los Angeles for this fall's production of the staged version of ``The Lion King,'' is one of a recent number of stage directors who have moved into film. Sam Mendes with ``American Beauty'' has had the most success, but Taymor's imaginative staging of what is considered the Bard's goriest play, ``Titus Andronicus,'' makes her someone to watch in the cinematic world.

Much of what makes ``Titus'' visually provocative is the choreography. Not choreography in a dance sense, of course, but the movement within the frame. Rather than relying simply on camera work, Taymor puts figures and groups in motion to create her operatic vision.

The film begins with a modern-day boy playing violently with his toy soldiers. Suddenly he is transported to the first century in the Colosseum where Roman soldiers caked in bluish-gray mud march toward him in a stylized, robotic fashion much like a wind-up toy would.

What follows in the guise of politics and noble bearing is vicious, childish behavior, and Taymor runs with it. The shocks in ``Titus'' - and there are many (there is even a Hannibal Lecter reference in Anthony Hopkins' grisly performance of the title role) - speak of a violent time and of our violent natures. The machinations in ``Titus'' make any modern political campaign look like a picnic. Still, it serves as a fable relevant to today (though we do not literally eat our young). To help this along, the setting is as much fascist Italy as it is ancient Rome.

Taymor elicits fine performances from the entire cast, including Jessica Lange as sizzling Tamora, the Goth Queen; Harry J. Lennix as the devious Aaron; and Alan Cumming as Saturninus, the decadent emperor. (Cumming, who was the emcee in Mendes' reinvented stage version of ``Cabaret,'' plays decadent better than anyone.)

Throw in dazzling costumes and staging and Elliot Goldenthal's terrific score, and ``Titus'' becomes a feast for the senses.

Smokin': There is one reason to see Jane Campion's film ``Holy Smoke'': Kate Winslet's performance. The story of a young Australian woman (Winslet) who joins a religious cult and is - at the behest of her parents - kidnapped by a crazy deprogrammer (Harvey Keitel) is wildly uneven. What keeps it afloat is Winslet's no-holds-barred approach to her character.

While the film seems to be about cults, it's really a battle of the sexes. And who better than Keitel and Winslet to go at it? It's enough to make you overlook the fact that ``Holy Smoke'' lacks a cohesive point of view and realistic character development.

Make 'Room': The 1983 Merchant-Ivory production of ``A Room With a View'' picked up eight Oscar nominations, winning three. The film, which came out on DVD for the first time early this summer, is a delight, with a witty screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. It boasts wonderful performances from some of England's finest actors - Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, the late Denholm Elliot, Daniel Day-Lewis, Julian Sands and Judi Dench. In a summer of mindless big-budget garbage, it's the perfect antidote.

``Titus'' (Fox) is priced at $103.99 for VHS and $34.90 for the DVD, which includes commentary by director Julie Taymor, scene specific commentary by stars Anthony Hopkins and Harry J. Lennix, a Q&A with Taymor and a ``making of'' documentary. ``Holy Smoke'' (Miramax) is $103.99 for VHS and $29.99 for the DVD. ``A Room With a View'' (Image) is $29.99 for the DVD.

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Alan Cumming plays Saturninus, the decadent emperor, in Julie Taymor's ``Titus.''