For the pure in art
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Stars Scarlett Johansson, Colin Friels, Judy Parfitt. Rated M.

Reviewer: Lt Simone Heyer

In Holland in 1665, a kindly tile painter is left blind and hideously burned after an accident, unable support his wife and daughter.

Superb images of Iraq conflic
The Fight for Iraq
Edited by Maj Angus Beaton. The Army Benevolent Fund.
152pp. £14.99 ($A36) plus £9.45 ($A24) postage and packaging.

Reviewer: Cpl Cameron Jamiesoner

There has been precious little in the way photo essays about the recent Iraq war to help visualise the realities of the conflict.

The Safety of Objects
The Emperor's Club

Stars Glenn Close, Joshua Jackson, Robert Klein, Patricia Clarkson.
Reviewer: Lt Simone Heyer

This is a rare beast - it's thinking American film It features a plot tha makes you think, and keep thinking.

The essence of the story is that people are more important than things.

Forever
Amici
EMI

You wouldn't necessarily expect a group of opera singers to be good on the eye, but that's what I noticed first about Amici.

The five classically trained singers come from England, South Africa and New Zealand; quite the inter-continental band. Appealing to a wider audience, has a beautiful mix of opera and mainstream songs.

It's a great album.

Bread and Barrels of Water Outlandish
BMG

Outlandish are big in the UK but haven't quite made it in Australia.

Although European-based, the band members have an Arab background, with the language and sounds incorporated into their CD.

The result is a smooth, melodic urban sound.

Mesopotamix
Various artists
EMI

The culture of the Middle East is made even more rich by music.

mixes traditional with modern styles, and the result is an addictive, exotic-sounding, full-bodied CD.

Reviewer: Lt Simone Heyer