Tag Archives: movies

What We’re Listening to/Watching – April 2012

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cds and dvdsA sampling of what we’re listening to and watching:

Laura E.  – I’m watching Community and loving it! This is a totally under-appreciated comedy gem. And I’ve been listening to Fur and Gold by Bat for Lashes, pretty alterna music.

Amy V. – I’m watching The Big Bang Theory. (Bazinga!).

Sarah – I am watching Buffy for the first time. (I know, for SHAME that it’s taken me so long!).  I am listening to a zillion things, though–  Wrecking Ball–Bruce Springsteen, Sigh No More–Mumford and Sons, The King is Dead–The Decemberists.

Emily – The Way – Tom (Martin Sheen) journeys to France to collect the remains of his son (Emilio Estevez) who was killed while hiking the Camino de Santiago.  Instead of returning home, Tom completes the traditional journey in his son’s place, interacting with other pilgrims and locals encountered along the way.

McKenzie – I just discovered All the Roadrunning, a CD collaboration between Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler and it’s pretty much been on repeat since I downloaded it. It’s this fun hybrid between bluegrass, rock and country that really works so well with their unique voices and instruments.

And as for a DVD, Like Crazy is pretty new and it’s really great. Don’t watch it if you’re not into ambiguous endings, but do if you enjoy a young love story, de-mystified.

Laura S. – Before my sister left for Morocco we started rewatching all the past episodes of How I Met Your Mother. I’m about halfway through. They are, if it’s even possible, funnier than the first time I saw them.

I’ve been listening to the The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond Soundtrack. It’s like they looked at my most played artist on Spotify and then asked them to makes songs just for me. Neko Case, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Civil Wars, The Decemberists; their choices are spot on for the tone of the book and movie.

Eric – I am listening to Robert Johnson-King of the Delta Blues and Etta James- Her Best. I am watching Justified season two and Regular Show Slack Pack (for me but also with my children)

Spring Fever

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Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, and somewhere the crack of the bat can be heard. With each puff of smoke from the mitt optimism for the upcoming baseball season abounds.

Around here, the Cincinnati Reds opening day may as well be declared a holiday. This is the time of year when any team can win the pennant, at least in the eyes of their fans. For me its a time to break out the sunflower seeds.  There is nothing better than sitting in the dugout or bullpen with a couple dozen sunflowers in your mouth while the salty taste permeates as you shuck each one and separate the tasty insides from the outer shell.   But for those of you who don’t get nostalgic for the taste of seeds and the competition of spitting the shells into a cup, here are my top 5 baseball movies that are available here at the Clermont County Public Library in chronological order.

1942-The Pride of the Yankees-because of the iconic speech…”Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

1976-Bad News Bears-because every team should have a girl for a pitcher…”and just wait til next year.”

1984-The Natural-because who doesn’t want to hit the ball into the scoreboard and cause a giant epic explosion while rounding the bases triumphantly?

1989-Field of Dreams-because now we know that “if you build it, he will come,” and every kid wants to connect with their dad.

1992-A League of Their Own-because woman can make great baseball players too and “THERE’S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!”

1993-The Sandlot-because the whole neighborhood played baseball and we all knew that the neighbor’s dog would eventually get our ball…game over.

2005-Fever Pitch-because there is more to life than just baseball and even the Red Sox can win the Pennant (take note Cubs fans).

So before the games starts get some sunflower seeds, and break out some of your favorite baseball movies, then watch them all so you will be ready for this year’s baseball season.

 

 

Downton Abbey has Widespread Appeal

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Does it seem like everyone you know is watching and talking about Downton Abbey and you’re on our request list? With the show airing in over 100 countries and having won six Emmys in 2011, it is easy to understand why the widespread attention.

While you wait for your queue, check out the following Downton Abbey watch- and readalikes.

One of the most loved television series is brought back to life with a fresh cast in Upstairs, Downstairs as Housekeeper, Rose, recruits a new ‘downstairs’ family to help run the elegance and finery of the ‘upstairs’ world.

Based on the novel by E.M. Forster, the cultured, idealistic Schliegel sisters, the materialistic Wilcox family, and poor romantic Bast find a point of intersection at an English country house called Howards End in Herfordshire.

In turn-of-the-twentieth-century England, orphaned Christina upsets the male-dominated, class-conscious environment when she is sent to live with her uncle and two male cousins at their decaying country mansion, Flambards.

Cranford, in 1842, is a market town in northwest England. It is a place governed by etiquette, custom and above all, an intricate network of ladies. It seems that life has always been conducted according to their social rules. Also, check out Return to Cranford.

Manor House is a fascinating look at the grand and grueling British class system of the early 1900s.

Books

The World of Downton Abbey is a companion book to the popular British series about the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants offers insights into the story and characters and background information on British society in the early years of the twentieth century.

Below Stairs is a kitchen-maid’s memoir of life in the great houses of England and brilliantly evokes the long vanished world of masters and servants portrayed in Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs.

Lady Almina and the real Downton Abbey examines the life of Lady Almina, the fifth Countess of Carnarvon, and the events in Highclere Castle during the First World War.

Reel Reads: Great Gatsby

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Baz Luhrman, who directed two of my fav movies- Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge, will turn next to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, The Great Gatsby. Leonardo diCaprio will play Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, who finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby played by Tobey Maguire.

Never read the book? Or is sophomore English a dim memory? Plenty of time to refresh your memory since the movie will be out at the end of the year.

On CD

On digital audio file

Playaway

Book

 

 

 

Oscar Picks: Based on the Book

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The Oscars are coming up soon and I can’t wait to see who wins this year. Awards season is my very favorite of all the seasons! Regardless of how the voting goes this time around, I already know the winner this year; its books! Eleven films based on books were nominated for one of the main awards, and two-thirds of the Best Picture nominations this year were based on books. If you’re itching to read the stories behind the movies try check out some of these.

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo- nominated for Best Picture and Cinematography.

Hugo (Based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret) by Brian Selznick- nominated for Best Picture and Cinematography.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer- nominated for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett- nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress and two Best Supporting Actresses.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson- nominated for Best Actress and  Cinematography.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre- nominated for best Actor (Check out the BBC miniseries as well).

The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings- nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor.

*Moneyball by Michael Lewis- nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.

My Week with Marilyn by Colin Clark- nominated Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

*The Iron Lady by John Campbell- nominated for Best Actress.

Albert Nobbs by George Moore- nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

*Did you know that we share materials with libraries all over the Ohio, so if there is an item you are looking for that is not in our system, chance are we can find it for you in our MORE system!

Books to Movies

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2012 will bring some beloved books being transformed into movies. Might be worth giving them a re-read just to see how the movies compare.

Great Expectations -  Charles Dickens wrote about the orphan, Pip, and the convict, Magwitch, the beautiful Estella, and her guardian, the embittered and vengeful Miss Havisham, the ambitious lawyer, Mr. Jaggers — all have a part to play in the mystery. Ralph Fiennes stars as Magwitch in this 2012 release along with Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham. Information about the movie.

Lorax – a Dr. Seuss favorite about saving the trees comes to the big screen in 2012 voiced by Danny DeVito as the Lorax and Ed Helms as the Once-ler.

 

Les Miserables is an adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption starring Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman. Don’t forget to listen to the beautiful music from the stage production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery Movie Night

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This week TNT launches its new Mystery Movie Night, a series of new movies based on bestselling books.  Watch the movies and then read the books – you might just discover a new favorite author!  Here’s the line up:

Scott Turow’s Innocent – Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 9 p.m.

Sandra Brown’s Ricochet - Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 9 p.m.

Lisa Gardner’s Hide - Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 9 p.m.

Richard North Patterson’s Silent Witness – Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 9 p.m.

April Smith’s Good Morning, Killer – Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m.

Mary and Carol Higgins Clark’s Deck the Halls – Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m.

The Avengers

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It’s time to start studying up!

The Avengers has a release date of May 4, 2012.

Directed by the amazing Joss Whedon, this first in what is likely to be a highly successful franchise features characters from hit films Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.

I won’t give away any hints as to the plot, but if you’re interested, check out these movies and MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THE END OF THE CREDITS!

If that doesn’t satisfy your hunger for all things Avengers try checking out The Avengers : earth’s mightiest heroes, the ultimate character guide written by Alan Cowsill and  Avengers : the ultimate guide by Tom DeFalco.

Want even more? Try reading the original comics. The library has The Essential Avengers Volumes 1 and 2.

Horror DVDs for Halloween

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the boxThe Halloween season is upon us, but don’t wait until the last minute to go trick-or-treating through the DVD section looking for a spook! Movies like Frankenstein and the Poltergeist trilogy probably come to mind, but I’ve highlighted a few I found while browsing the collection.

Vincent Price stars in the 1953 film House of Wax about an insane sculptor that builds a wax museum out of things that used to be alive.

Based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name, 1408, follows renowned horror novelist Mike Enslin and paranormal skeptic. Defying the warnings of the hotel manager, the author is the first person in years to stay in the reputedly haunted suite 1408 of the notorious Dolphin Hotel. Will Enslin go from skeptic to true believer, all while trying to survive the night?

The Box will bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, by pressing this button it will simultaneously cause the death of another person somewhere in the world, someone the owner doesn’t know.

In The Eye Sydney is a blind violinist who is given the chance to see for the first time since childhood through a miraculous corneal transplant. As she adjusts, she is haunted by frightening visions of death. Terrorized and on the brink of insanity, Sydney is convinced that her anonymous eye donor has opened the door to a terrifying world only she can see.

The Haunting in Connecticut is based on the true story of one family and their new house, which was once a funeral parlor where some of the most heinous acts took place. Now their son is being used as a messenger for the evil spirits that still lurk in the house.

Have you checked the children? How are the children? Those are some of the harassing questions by a prank caller to a high school babysitter in the 2006 remake of When a Stranger Calls.

These are just a few of the horror films in the library’s collection. What horror film thrills and chills you?

Birds of a Feather

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Mark Obmascik’s book The Big Year, the story of three top contenders in a year-long bird-watching competition, comes to the silver screen on October 14. The three obsessed men — a roofing contractor seeking to break his own record, a corporate executive and a heavyset nuclear power plant engineer — brave harsh weather conditions and possible debt in hopes of spotting the most avian species and becoming the Big Year champion. In his book, Obmascik, a journalist from the Denver Post, utilizes post-competition interviews to make readers feel as though they have joined the Big Year themselves. Enjoying Obsmascik’s writing will make the movie featuring Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson even funnier!