Blog Post
March's Books to Film
by muffy
The most anticipated feature film this spring is perhaps The Hunger Games (PG-13), to be release on March 23rd, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. In a bleak future, the United States has been reduced to a dictatorship with 12 districts. Every year, in order to prevent uprisings, the ruling Capitol forces one boy and one girl from each district to fight each other to the death in a nationally televised arena --- and only one will survive. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts and make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love if she's ever to return home.
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is the 3D-CG adaptation of the classic tale of a forest guardian who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for a real Truffula Tree, the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To get it, he must find the story of the Lorax, the acerbic yet charming character who fights to protect his world.
John Carter, a Disney production (PG-13) based on Sci-fi novel A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton, this sweeping action adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars) tells the story of John Carter, who is inexplicably embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, and discovers that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.
Based on the fairy tale of Snow White by The Brothers Grimm, Mirror, Mirror (rated PG) retells a wicked enchantress's schemes and scrambles to control a spirited orphan's throne and the attention of a charming prince. A star-studded cast - with Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen; the fresh-faced Lily Collins as Snow White; gorgeous leading man Armie Hammer as the Prince, and the incomparable Nathan Lane as Brighton, the Queen’s right hand man.
THE MOVIE I AM MOST EAGER TO SEE :
Already out on the coasts but hopefully coming to theaters near us is Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring eye-candy Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and the dynamic Kristin Scott Thomas; directed by Lasse Hallström ( Chocolat)
Based on the 2007 novel by Paul Torday, where a visionary sheik believes the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense in order to turn the dream into reality, he enlists Britain's leading fisheries expert and the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary. This unlikely team will embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible. Check out the recent review and trailer in EW.
Blog Post
Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
by lucroe
February 6 marked the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's 60 year reign starting in 1952. To read about the Diamond Jubilee celebrations click here. Recent biographies written about the Queen include: Elizabeth the Queen by noted biographer Sally Bedell Smith. Smith follows the young princess as a student to a love-struck teen (after meeting Philip) through her current reign. This is a well-written and engrossing account of a Queen that successfully balances royal tradition and modernity.
Another title, The Real Elizabeth : an intimate portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, takes on the subject of the role of the monarchy itself specifically under her auspices over the past 60 years and how it has changed over time. And do not forget, her royal consort, Prince Philip, who has served by her side (and one step behind her). There is a recent biography, Prince Philip: the turbulent early life of the man who married Queen Elizabeth II that focuses on his turbulent childhood as his family is exiled from Greece (where he was born) to his mother’s schizophrenia and his father leaving him at an early age in order to live with his mistress.
His charm and good looks eventually win him the hand of the-then Princess Elizabeth for whom he renounces his titles, religion and even family. A storybook romance indeed! To read more about their life together, read Philip and Elizabeth: portrait of a royal marriage. Movies about her include Helen Mirren’s outstanding portrayal in the Queen and the British TV show, Queen: a dramatic portrait of one of the world's most powerful women, as well as several documentaries including Windsors, a royal family.
Blog Post
TV Spotlight: Detroit 1-8-7
by manz
In the crime drama ">Detroit 1-8-7, an Inner-city homicide unit is led by Michael Imperioli as Detective Louis Fitch. He and his top-notch colleagues investigate homicides in Detroit. The show is more character driven than police procedural, and the acting is great.
A fun fact about this show, is that it was filmed where it’s set. The pilot was shot in Atlanta, but the remainder of the series was filmed on location in Detroit. The series originally ran on ABC from September 21, 2010 to March 20, 2011 and has since been cancelled.
The show was intended to be a mockumentary, but it switched gears after the Detroit Police Department cancelled all real-life documentary ride-alongs after a controvercial shooting while another documentary was being filmed. Even after editing, bits of the mockumentary are still evident in Detroit 1-8-7’s pilot episode.
If you’re looking for another cop show, because perhaps, like me, you can’t get enough police dramas, then give ">Detroit 1-8-7 a try. But be warned that it’s no Wire or Homicide: Life on the Street.
Blog Post
Teen Fiction Turns To Television
by manz
J.L. Smith's The Vampire Diaries and Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars are popular teen novel series that have been made into successful television series. The shows are enjoyed by both adults and young adults, so don’t let the word “teen” scare you.
The Vampire Diaries TV series, now in its third season, takes place in Mystic Falls, Va., a small town haunted by supernatural beings. Two vampire brothers start at Mystic Falls High, one good and one evil, and both end up vying for Elena’s soul. The show focuses on the adventures of this love triangle and their friends as they deal with their dark pasts.
The television series Pretty Little Liars is set in the fictitious town of Rosewood, Pa. Now in its second season, the show follows four friends as their little group falls apart following the disappearance of their ring leader, Alison. A year after Alison's disappearance, the friends start receiving messages from someone called “A.” This mystery person threatens to reveal the clique’s dark secrets. Is it Alison? And if not, then who? The girls are on a mission to find out.
Blog Post
More December's Books to Film
by muffy
Steven Spielberg directs Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson and David Thewlis in War Horse (PG-13), based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo - a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War.
It begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets.
John le Carré's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is adapted by Director Tomas Alfredson for Universal Pictures into a feature film starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy.
This international espionage action-thriller is set at the height of the Cold War when George Smiley, a disgraced British spy, is rehired in secret by his government in fear that MI-6 has been compromised by a double agent working for the Soviets.
Blog Post
When Popular Books Become Popular Movies
by manz
You’ve probably heard many folks say, “the book is always better.” I won’t speculate as to whether that is true or not, but there’s definitely chatter. Sometimes it’s quite fun to see how a book is translated into a movie. At times it’s pretty true to the book, while other times it seems like more of an adaptation with added elements for dramatic flare. Then there are the instances where the book gets butchered and we declare “what have they done?!” It’s quite common for Hollywood to take bestselling books and turn them into blockbusters. Two adaptations recently released on DVD include the love stories Water for Elephants and One Day.
Water for Elephants, starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, is the story of a veterinary student and a circus performer who fall in love during the Great Depression while sharing an interest in an elephant. The film is not only a love story, but also the tale of the circus people surrounding the couple.
In One Day, Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) begin a friendship that spans two decades after spending one day together, July 15, 1988. We catch a glimpse into their lives every so often on the anniversary of that day. Over the course of ups and downs and many life changes, Em and Dex realize they were meant to be together.
Blog Post
The Criterion Collection’s Kes
by manz
The Criterion Collection has released a newly restored digital transfer of the 1969 film Kes. Based on the book A Kestrel For A Knave, by Barry Hines, the film has been named by the British Film Institute as one of the ten best British films of the century.
Directed by Ken Loach, Kes centers around a working-class 15-year-old named Billy. He lives in South Yorkshire, is bullied at home and at school, and learns about falconry as he begins to train a wild kestrel. Viewers can’t help but root for the troubled Billy in this coming-of-age tale as he goes from triumph to heartbreak, while struggling with daily life in his small town. The film is a bit dark, but also tinged with a warmth and humor within the melancholy.
A few things that help make Criterion editions of classic and contemporary films a more complete movie experience are the supplemental disc features and the informational booklets that come with the films. Reading in depth about the film and viewing the bonus footage make them an even greater experience, and that is definitely the case with Kes. The film is available at AADL on DVDand Blu-ray.
Blog Post
Somewhere
by manz
Sofia Coppola, spawn of mega-talented director Francis Ford Coppola, has honed her own writing and directing talent over the years. The films she writes tend to be personal: with The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and now Somewhere, she has offered viewers her own view of the world. Her films are sparse in dialog and rich in analytical thought. She described Somewhere as the most low-stress, pleasant shoot she’s had.
In Somewhere, Stephen Dorff portrays Hollywood star Johnny Marco. He’s a hot, young actor, living in the star-studded Chateau Marmont in LA, and living the life, but not having much fun. After we get inside Johnny’s head we are introduced to his eleven-year-old daughter Cleo, played by Elle Fanning. The film focuses on the story of the two characters and their relationship, especially while living in the unique and lonely world of Hollywood and stardom. This surprise visit ultimately shakes Johnny and wakes him up. After Cleo leaves, he’s faced with the fact that he has to make a change, to go somewhere, he’s just not sure where.
Blog Post
Betty's Blue Valentine Crush... New Blu-rays!
by manz
AADL’s Blu-ray collection is ever-growing! If you’ve upgraded to a Blu-ray player, check out some titles. Here’s a few new blue titles on Blu-ray, if you want to place a hold. (Have no fears if you don't own a Blu-ray player... We have these blue titles on DVD as well!)
Blue Crush: In this Action film, “Ann-Marie, a big-wave surfer on the North Shore of Oahu, drives to make a comeback after nearly drowning in a surfing competition. Her life becomes more complicated by her romance with a handsome football player. Ann-Marie struggles between her need to prove herself and her desire to take the easy way out.” (Also on DVD.) If you dig the waves, also check out Blue Crush 2.
Blue Valentine: This drama is "An honest, moving and uninhibited love story. The uncompromising portrait of Dean and Cindy, a young married couple who have grown apart, taking one night away from their daughter to try to save their relationship. Highlighted by provocative scenes alternately intimate and intense, the film captured audiences and critics alike." (Also on DVD.)
Betty Blue: This French language film is “The story of Zorg, an aspiring novelist who gets by as a handyman, and Betty a beautiful, unpredictable temptress who turns his life upside down. As Betty's mental state turns dark, Zorg desperately attempts to comfort her. Even when ensconced in a dreamy rural town, Betty's fantasy world encroaches on her reality as she slowly spirals out of control.” (Also on DVD.)
Blog Post
Summer Comedy at Purple Rose
by annevm
"Consider the Oyster," a world premiere by playwright David MacGregor, is winning praise from audiences and reviewers this summer. The play runs through Sept. 3 at Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea. Directed by Guy Sanville, this adult-oriented farce/comedy is about what happens when -- during the celebration of a Detroit Lions Super Bowl victory -- a man named Gene Walsh impulsively proposes marriage to the love of his life and she accepts. Sounds like fun.