Blog Post
PreK Bits - "E" is for EXCELLENT snow day!
by ryanikoglu
Snow is Exciting !! When it snows, there are Excellent new things to do !!!
TEN ON THE SLED … slid, swerved, sped, squirted out, popped up, flipped over ... down the hill.
Ms. Rachel and Banjo Betsy led the action song “This Is The Way We Play In The Snow”. We made snow angels, snow people, footprints and skated.
PERFECT DAY showed an entire day of snow play … until the lamps went on at dusk.
If you want to get more ideas from EXCELLENT snow stories ... try the following favorites:
RED SLED … an almost wordless book with a clear story to tell in pictures.
The SNOWY DAY … the day Peter goes for a walk in the snow.
INTO The SNOW … sensory joys of winter
BEAR & HARE: SNOW …friends Bear and Hare go out and play in the snow.
The LITTLE SNOWPLOW … reminiscent of The LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD.
KATY And The BIG SNOW SNOW …a classic story of a big snow day.
SUPER SNOW DAY SEEK AND FIND … find the clues in the pictures.
IF IT’S SNOWY AND YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR PAWS … you know this song.
KUMAK’S HOUSE … an Inuit story of too much noise in the house.
OVER And UNDER The SNOW … beautiful illustrations show where wildlife lives in winter.
The HAT … Jan Brett’s marvelous illustrated version of a classic tale.
UNDER MY HOOD I HAVE A HAT … a sequential winter story.
Be sure to honor winter with a family watch together of … The SNOWMAN on DVD.
This short animation film is appropriate for all audiences including very young children; it has beautiful music; and the best non-Disney animation ever.
Blog Post
Oscar Winners!
by manz
Last night at the star-studded 88th annual Academy Awards, hosted by funny man Chris Rock, Oscar winners were announced for the best in film for the past year. Top honors went to Spotlight – Best Picture, Inside Out – Animated Feature Film, Amy – Documentary Feature, and Son of Saul – Foreign Language Film. Mad Max: Fury Road was the big winner with six Oscars in a variety of technical categories.
Individual Oscars went to Leonardo DiCaprio for Actor in a Leading Role in the The Revenant, Brie Larson for Actress in a Leading Role in Room, Mark Rylance for Actor in a Supporting Role in Bridge of Spies, Alicia Vikander for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in The Danish Girl, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu for Directing in The Revenant. (He also won Best Director last year for Birdman.)
Be sure to check out the complete list of winners.
Blog Post
Pride
by ballybeg
A marvelously entertaining and uplifting film, Pride (Blu-ray here; DVD here) was released in 2014, but I missed it until a friend recently suggested it to me. You shouldn’t miss this one either, for: the amazing true story, the outstanding acting with a relatively young and unknown cast (notable exceptions would be Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton who are well-known, seasoned British character actors), the beautiful vocal selections, the hilarious interactions between Welsh villagers and gay activists, a dance number which will have you on your feet, and the ending which will have you cheering.
During the miners’ strike in Great Britain in 1984, which lasted a full year and pushed miners and their families to the edge, a group of lesbian and gay activists in London decided to express their support for the miners by raising much needed funds. They felt a common bond with the oppressed miners against a common adversary: prejudice. (Neither group was overly fond of Margaret Thatcher either.)
Gay liberation had not advanced very far in the early eighties and the miners’ union rejected help from the gay community. But, undeterred, the young and idealistic group took their buckets of money straight to a small village in Wales to give to the miners and their families directly. How they were received there is partly predictable and partly pure magic. Suffice to say that every person involved was changed by encountering the other.
Enjoy the Welsh accents, but I suggest you have on the subtitles so you don't miss a single, hilarious line.
Blog Post
New TV Shows @ AADL
by manz
The library is always acquiring additional TV shows and new seasons of them, be they hot and new, or oldies but goodies. Here are some new-to-AADL series:
Casual, Season 1
A bachelor brother and his newly divorced sister living are under one roof again. Together, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating while raising her teenage daughter.
Z Nation, Seasons 1 & 2
Three years after the devastating ZN1 virus gutted the country, a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of a zombie attack, and humanity's last hope to develop a vaccine, from New York to California. However, he's hiding a secret that could endanger the mission.
The Last Kingdom
The re-telling of the valiant story of King Alfred the Great and his desire to unite many separate kingdoms into what would become England. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people reclaimed their land from the invading Vikings and built a place they call home.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Season 1
Rescued after fifteen years in an underground doomsday cult, Kimmy decides to rebuild her life in New York City armed with only a fifth-grade education and a firm belief that truly anything is possible. She quickly finds a roommate, a job working for a spoiled Manhattan mom, and a new beginning.
19-2, Season 1
Revolves around the day-to-day life of two unwilling partners of the Montreal Police Department, Officers Nick Barron and Ben Chartier. These two beat cops patrol the urban sprawl of downtown's 19th district, in cruiser No. 2. The show is about the tensions and bonds that develop between two incompatible men of very different temperaments and life experiences.
Humans
In a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth' - a highly-developed robotic servant that's so similar to a real human it's transforming the way we live.
Lost Girl, Seasons 1-5
For years Bo had no idea what she was or why every new lover died in the throes of passion. She fled one corpse after another until a chance encounter with the puckish thief Kenzi exposed Bo's existence to the Fae. This ancient society of supernatural beings exists outside the realm of mere mortals. Within their world, there are only two sides: Light and Dark. Each member of the Fae must choose who they will serve. But not Bo. Driven to discover who she really is, Bo vows to live on her own terms even if it means existing in the abyss between darkness and light.
Midwinter of the Spirit
Follows country vicar Merrily Watkins, who is one of the few women priests working as an exorcist in the UK. When a grisly murder takes place in her local area, the police come calling for her assistance.
The Expanse, Season 1
A police detective in the asteroid belt, the first officer of an interplanetary ice freighter and an earth-bound United Nations executive slowly discover a vast conspiracy that threatens all humanity.
Prisoner’s Wives, The Complete Series
Gemma's perfect life comes crashing down when her husband is arrested for murder. As Gemma learns to navigate the prison system, she starts to think the unthinkable.
Forever, the Complete Series
Henry has a vested interest in studying the dead: He is immortal, and only his best friend and confidant, Abe, full of life at age 75, knows Henry's secret. Henry hasn't aged at all since the clock stopped 200 years ago, but he's managed to be discreet without anyone finding out his affliction. That task becomes increasingly difficult when he meets NYPD detective Jo Martinez, who is fascinated by Henry after learning he was the sole survivor of a horrific train crash.
The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Season 1
In 1959, Dr. Lucian Blake returns to his Australian hometown to continue his late father's medical practice, but it is his additional responsibility as the town's chief medical officer that leads him to investigating cases of suspicious death.
For more TV shows, be sure to check out AADL’s lists for HOT TV shows, as well as NEW TV shows.
Blog Post
The Ann Arbor Film Festival on DVD
by Eahagen
We are nearing that special time of year… it’s nearly time for the ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL! Beloved by locals, the AAFF is also internationally recognized as the “longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America.”
If you are curious about the festival, or perhaps looking to reminisce over previous editions, AADL can help! You can check out the festival’s DVD collection, which showcases award-winning and popular films from previous festivals. Cool, right?
Ann Arbor Film Festival 53 : Volume 8 (newly added!)
Ann Arbor Film Festival 52 : Volume 7
Ann Arbor Film Festival 51 : Volume 6
See the full list of DVD’s here.
And of course, you can visit the AAFF website for more information regarding the festival, which runs March 15-20th, 2016.
Blog Post
Pretty in Pink 30th Anniversary!
by manz
Pretty in Pink will be back on the big screen in theaters next week! The movie will be shown in select theaters nationwide, including Ann Arbor, on February 14 and 17 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film. How cool is that?! Yes, it’s been that long since the film’s release.
The 1986 film is a classic 80s flick directed by John Hughes. It stars Molly Ringwald in pink as Andie. Jon Cryer wonderfully portrays her male BFF Duckie, and her hunky crush Blaine is played by Andrew McCarthy. It’s a classic high school love triangle in classic 80s fashion -- just a bit more pink. Add in more quirky friends, a rich vs. poor social dynamic, a popular bully, and a stellar soundtrack… and you’re all set! The film version shown in theaters will include the alternate ending where Andie ends up with the other guy.
Blog Post
It's Blind Date with a Book season!
by eapearce
Stop by any of the AADL locations for a sweet February surprise! Adults and teens will find Blind Date with a Book displays, where one can hopefully find the mysterious book of their dreams! Books (and movies!) wrapped in butcher paper have a short description of what the material inside contains… but you’ll have to check out the item and take it home to unwrap to find out if it’s really meant for you!
Kids aren’t left out either! There are Surprise Book displays at every location too, where kids will find mystery books and movies wrapped up with only hints written on them to imply what’s inside. These displays will be up for the entire month of February, so don’t miss your chance to find your match.
Blog Post
The End of the Tour
by manz
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of David Foster Wallace’s (1962-2008) magnum opus Infinite Jest, so it’s a great time to revisit the 1996 work.
At the time the book was published Rolling Stone Magazine sent reporter David Lipsky to follow Wallace on his book tour promoting the book.
The five-day interview didn’t get published in the magazine but became Lipsky's New York Times-bestselling book Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace in 2010. The book was recently adapted for screen which resulted in the film The End of the Tour.
The End of the Tour stars Jason Segel as Wallace and Jesse Eisenberg as Lipsky. Lipsky tags along on a road trip with Wallace and they have conversation after conversation on just about everything, with Lipsky getting it all on tape. It’s a striking look at how you view yourself, and then once you are well-known how others perceive you. It begs the question – does it really matter? I haven’t read Infinite Jest, but I’m super curious about the brain of David Foster Wallace, and found the movie provocative and thought provoking about what rests in the minds of those we label genius.
Blog Post
TV Spotlight: Broad City
by manz
Four and three and two and one. The hilarious Comedy Central show Broad City follows two best friends in their twenties living in New York City. Low on money and high on friendship, shenanigans and crazy situations, Abbi and Ilana never leave you starving for a laugh.
Bed Bath & Beyond lover Abbi is a struggling artist working as a custodian in a gym where she longs to be a trainer. Ilana is a crop-top wearing slacker who “works” at a nondescript office where she naps in the bathroom and does nothing but annoy her office-mate. Between jobs, relationships and partying there's plenty of time for big dreams and wacky schemes every day of the week in the big city.
The show initially started as a web series and was created by the show’s stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson who met while taking classes at Upright Citizens Brigade. Season three begins in February, so get yourself caught up with these mad funny women.
Blog Post
Alan Rickman's Legacy
by mansii
London born British actor and director Alan Rickman died of cancer today, January 14, at age 69. His prolific and versatile acting career of almost forty years spanned stage productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 70s and early 80s, and Broadway productions as late as 2001, for which he was nominated for the Tony award. In film he was perhaps most beloved for his role as Professor Severus Snape in all eight Harry Potter adaptions. In 1997 he won both a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his performance in Rasputin ('96). His deep, hypnotic voice has been his un-asked for trade mark, and despite his late start as an actor at age 26, his master-hood of the craft places his legacy among the giants of film.
Three of my personal favorites from his film career are:
Sense and Sensibility ('95). This adaption of Jane Austin's classic 19th century novel about two sisters (actresses Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet), opposite in character, who learn from each others failures and triumphs in matters of the heart. Rickman plays Colonel Brandon, whose patience and trueness of heart triumphs over his better-looking but false rival in love.
Love Actually ('03). This British film with a host of beloved actors (Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Kierra Knightley, Liam Neeson) charts the interwoven stories of eight couples, who must through different journies learn from their mistakes, forgive, and decide what matters. Rickman plays father and husband, Harry; a business executive who is tempted with infidelity.
Alice in Wonderland ('10). Tim Burton's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's famous children's story, where fantasy and adventure blend in a magical world of talking rabbits, live chess pieces, a vicious queen, a mad hatter, and an enigmatic and enlightened caterpillar (Rickman as the voice).
Rediscover your favorite Alan Rickman films, or be surprised by what you didn't know he played in through this list of his filmography.