Tag Archives: movies

Yoga: It does a Body Good

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yogaWhenever I think of yoga, I always picture the movie “Star Wars” and the little green guy in those movies named Yoda. I’m not really sure why but it sticks with me. Yoda is, of course, the master of finding inner peace and is amazingly agile and flexible for a nine-hundred-year-old being. So when I found out one of my friends was opening a yoga studio in the Cincinnati area, I had to try it. I mean, I always wanted to be as cool as Yoda.
As many of you may or may not know, I took on the endeavor of a couple of 5k runs with my friend last year. So this year, I have decided to take on Yoda, I mean yoga. (I don’t think I could take Yoda.) Having a friend that I trust sure helped in taking the first step to a nice Vinyasa Flow (that’s a yoga term or so I’m told). Many of you might think that running a 5k would be much tougher than yoga, but I am here to tell you that is not true. I used to be an athlete, so I know a good workout when I am forced to do one, and yoga is the best workout. I had my first class on a Thursday at the Fort Thomas Yoga Den and was still sore into the next week. But it was a good sore, an accomplished sore. A sore you go back for the next week, which is what I did and am still doing.
But taking a class is not the only way to get into yoga. There are several instructional videos out there that are super helpful in getting you started. You can certainly check them out at the library and save yourself some bucks. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Trainer’s Edge. Long and Lean Yoga:  This one is good because it helps with flexibility and toning.
Kathryn Budig. Aim True Yoga: The yoga flow that is incorporated here is most similar to the class I’m taking. I haven’t gotten into the poses yet.
Yoga for Inflexible People:  It has 35 workouts that range from 15 minutes to over an hour. If you have only 15 minutes for a workout, you can do that with this video.
There are many more videos that may be more suited to your skill level or to what you want out of a yoga workout, like flexibility, inner peace or core strength. I say the library is a good place to test out these things.
If a video or a class is not your style, the library also has books on yoga. These will also help you get into the yoga lifestyle. Yoga books are an excellent way to see the poses step-by-step through each progression; they are good for setting your own pace and teaching yourself. They will also let you know what the poses will help you accomplish in your workout.
Everybody has different goals that they want to accomplish in their yoga workout. My goal was to become more flexible and increase my lung capacity for running. But what I found was a lot more. You should TRY it and see what you can get out of yoga for yourself. But if you do start, make sure you are mentally and physically ready. You may want to consult a physician and/or start with a trained professional to reduce risk. WebMD has some helpful insights into the health benefits and risks of practicing yoga.

Stephenie Meyer’s Alien Love Story

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host After her wildly popular Twilight series had teen fans crowding bookstores and theaters, Stephenie Meyer tried her hand at writing for adults with The Host, first published in 2008. Now The Host, a sci-fi thriller featuring a love triangle with only two humans involved (it’s complicated) comes to theaters on March 29 in a film adaptation written and directed by Andrew Niccol (The Truman Show). This story is vampire-free but it does have aliens–”souls” who have taken over Earth and captured humans to serve as host bodies for their occupation. Check out all the action–romantic and otherwise–in Meyer’s novel before the movie opens on the big screen later this m

Sometimes, Some Things Make Me Cry.

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I’m a guy, so I never cry. But, as the title goes sometimes, some things do make me cry. It’s a natural human emotion and I am man enough to admit to it. This, however, is not going to be about all the things that make me cry; you don’t care about that and I certainly have no need to share my sensitivities that only occur when it’s raining. Nonetheless, it’s time we share a tender moment together and delve into our feelings over a nice, freshly brewed cup of tea.

For me, nothing gets me crying more than a good Bruce Willis movie, like the Die Hard movies or Red or even 16 Blocks, in which he sports an outstanding mustache.  In the grand scheme of things, a good Bruce Willis tear-jerker keeps it all in perspective for me. When poor John McClain gets sucked into another scenario where he is the only one that can be the hero and save the day, that just hits me right in the tear ducts man. The pain he goes through must really hurt – I mean emotionally, of course. Probably physically as well.

But, even more than that, sitting down next to the fireplace while sipping on some tea and reading a good emotionally gripping-novel with some historically accurate inaccuracies like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. This book is so emotionally gripping that my copy has several tear-stained pages. There is not a doubt in my mind that the library’s copy has some of the same problems…from many other patrons’ leaking eyes.

Then there is Justin Bieber. “I’ll be honest with you, I love his music. I do. I’m a “Justin Bieber” fan. For my money, I don’t know if it gets any better than when he sings “When a Man Loves a Woman”.” Bieber brings on a whole other level of sentimentality.  Every song he bellows from his velvety smooth vocal chords brings out emotions in me that I just don’t understand. He sends me to tears with one note. He’s just that good.

As you can plainly see, I’m an emotional fellow. I may not cry at every time a vampire shines like a diamond for me or for every lost love, but I have my moments and that is exactly what they are…my moments. Plus, I kinda lied; this did turn out to be about my times of tenderness.

P.S. I never Cry, never. I don’t care what you say…..never. Plus, I’m more of a Michael Bolton fan. He just gets me.

Most Popular Feature Films

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dvdTake a look at the most popular movies in 2012 at the library.

Top Ten Circulating Feature Films 2012:

Top Ten Circulating Blu-Rays 2012:

 

Revenge of the 90′s…or Why We Learned to Love Our Flannel Shirts.

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Ahhh the flannel shirt….it is the iconic look of the angst ridden youth of the nineties, a time when rebellion meant looking like a lumber jack fresh out of bed. It was easy.  It went great with a pair of ripped jeans. Plus, Eddie Vedder wore it and he was in Pearl Jam. It was a time when Miley Cyrus’ dad had a number one hit and big hair bands were still the rage. Underground grunge radio was emerging like Winona Ryder in a Tim Burton film (I’m not sure what that means so don’t ask).

Now that we are a decade into the twenty-first century all the music that inspired our flanneled-filled angst has returned with a vengeance. Many, many artist have returned to try and find the magic they once had back in the day. This seems like the place to list them, but who wants to read that? Plus, that would require me to look up each and every artist that has made said comeback and that is too much like work for me to do.There are at least 30 or more; you can sort through this list to find your favorite and then visit the library to check them out.

With that said,  those now iconic flannel shirts need to be dug out of the back of your closet, because they are back and ready for revenge. Just ask George Lucas, he never got rid of his and he just made over $4 billion. So here is what should happen, everyone everywhere needs to grab their dirtiest, grungiest flannel and wear it every day to work until they make $4 billion. Because the flannel shirt is the new power suit. Or….OR just watch The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit; maybe it is the old school power suit. Either way, flannel should be your everyday go-to shirt for everyday things such as meeting with the President or the CEO of your company.

While you are at it, grow some facial hair…mustache, beard, whatever…it will go nicely with your new flannel look. By the way here are some of my favorite nineties artists that released some new tuneage in the last two years…Foo Fighters, Cat Power, Flogging Molly, Radiohead, Ben Folds Five, and Eddie Vedder just to name a few. They all wore flannel and so should you.

Life of Pi

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life of piYann Martel’s Life of Pi spent 57 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list after its publication in 2001. More than a decade later, a film version of the novel opens in theaters on Nov. 21, capturing on the big screen the surprising story of a boy stuck in a lifeboat with wild animals. Blending Pi’s adventures of the mind and spirit with his incredible physical journey, the book is a holistic coming-of-age story that connects with a wide range of readers and audiences. If you haven’t yet read the mysterious and alluring Life of Pi, make sure to catch up before the movie premiers this month.

Happy Birthday, Hobbit

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the hobbitSeptember 21, 1937 saw the first publication (1,500 copies!) of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. While it’s been 75 years, the book still inspires many, including director Peter Jackson; the first of Jackson’s film adaptations comes out in December.

I fell in love with The Hobbit when a middle school teacher read it aloud to us (Thanks, Miss Maddie! (I repaid her kindness by insisting on speaking like Gollum, asking classmates what they had in their pocketsesss)).

Later I received a box set of the Lord of the Rings as a gift (Thanks, Mom and Dad!) which cemented my affection for Tolkien and his Middle Earth. I was the total Middle Earth geek – memorizing pronunciations and lineages; thank goodness there weren’t hobbit feet or elven ears to wear back then or I’m sure I would’ve been sporting them.

I can’t wait to see how Martin Freeman works his understated actor magic on the role of Bilbo. I do have to admit that after watching and re-watching Sherlock, it’s going to seem odd to watch Freeman without Benedict Cumberbatch  (wouldn’t BC be perfect as an arrogant elf?).

Trailer for The Hobbit.

Popular Smopular

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This past weekend I wanted to be a good library worker and familiarize myself with the more popular items that the friendly library has to offer. Just to let you know, I have a strong reluctance toward anything popular. I like to tread my own path, so to speak. It’s an affliction I have suffered with my whole life. I deal with it.

As you may or may not have heard, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, is the big thing right now. But, that is not the popular task that I took on, that would be too big of a step for this rebel. Moreover, the hold list for those books are astronomical, but I highly recommend them nonetheless. Other people seem to like them.

The popular thing I decided to take on was Harry Potter. I know what you are saying “Harry Potter? that was so five years ago.” I am taking baby steps here so cut me a break. Plus, the series sold like half a billion books worldwide and is the best selling book series in history, at least according to good old Wikipedia.

And of course I took the shortcut and watched the movies. That’s why they make movies, so I don’t have to read the books, right? Anyway, some of those books are fairly large and I would probably need more than a weekend to read them all. Plus bonus, you can check the Harry Potter movies and books from the library right now if you want! Because they are available, no wait list.

Needless to say I was entertained. So much so, I may even read the books.

Probably next year.

P.S. I do read books. I am reading Seth Grahame-Smith’s Unholy Night right now. (It’s not a movie yet, so I had to read it)

What We’re Listening to/Watching – May 2012

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CDs and DVDsVanessa – I am listening to Full Dark House, by Christopher Fowler. This is the first book following England’s Peculiar Crimes Unit – a must read for any mystery lover.

I am watching the second season of Castle – a show about a mystery author who helps the police solve crimes, which he uses as inspiration for his books. I love the surprise author appearances like James Patterson, Robert Parker, Sue Grafton and more!

Amy M. – I’m listening to Chief by  Eric Church.

Donna – I’m listening to The Lady of the Rivers by Phillipa Gregory, 3rd in the Cousins War Trilogy on book on CD.

Eric – I have watched the movies Crazy, Stupid, Love and Like Crazy, both checked out from the library. Moreover, I have been caught watching Walking Dead season 1 and Supernatural season 2 with my son.

Laura – I’ve been watching the third season of Fringe (yay that it got a mini reprieve from cancellation). I’ve been listening to El Camino by the Black Keys.

Books into Movies

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I love reading a good movie, or is it watching a good book? Either way you prefer to phrase it, I’m always excited, anxious and nervous when one of my favorite books is made into a movie. I usually start out hopeful that the story will come to life on screen, exactly as I have envisioned it. The next step is to carefully scrutinize the cast, and start making my wish list of which actors I think would have been better in each role. Then, I tell myself that I will give the film a chance to live up to my expectations (all while hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst). Finally, I grab the family and some popcorn, and am thrilled to see beloved characters and locations brought to life.

This spring, catch these movies, based on books:

Marvel’s The Avengers, out May 4th – Marvel comic books, including the characters Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow come alive.

Read “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” before seeing it onscreen this May, starring Dame Judi Dench. The story is about British retirees relocating to India. They find the Marigold Hotel less than the advertisements promised.

Since its original publication date in the 1980’s, women have been consulting this pregnancy guide (now in its 4th edition). Starting May 18th, you can watch an all-star cast in What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron star in Snow White and the Huntsman, starting June 1st. This film is described as an epic action-adventure based on the Snow White fairytales.

Movie Bonus: Okay, this wasn’t really a book, but it was so delightfully campy that I felt I couldn’t possibly mention spring movie releases without including it. Dark Shadows! Yes, kids, we had vampires before Edward and Stefan. Don’t believe me? Check out Dark Shadows on dvd, the popular late 60’s and early 70’s gothic soap opera. Johnny Depp stars as Barnabas Collins in the big-screen remake hitting theaters May 11th.