Category: DVDs

2026 Academy Awards Nominees

- Elena Leave a comment

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony airs Sunday, March 15th. Nominees for all categories have been announced, and The Library has some available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Kanopy. Place a hold with your DPL card and view the following movies before the winners are announced! (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

Sinners
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Original Screenplay, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Michael B. Jordan), Achievement in Directing, and other nominations

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

One Battle after Another
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Leonardo DiCaprio), Achievement in Directing, and other nominations

Bob is a washed-up revolutionary who lives in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited and self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis resurfaces and Willa goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her as both father and daughter battle the consequences of their pasts.

Hamnet
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Jessie Buckley), Achievement in Directing, and other nominations

From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, HAMNET tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Marty Supreme
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Timothée Chalamet), Achievement in Directing, and other nominations

Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness in this globe-spanning, full-throttle thrill ride from Josh Safdie.

Bugonia
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Adapted Screenplay, Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Emma Stone), and other nominations

Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.

F1
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Achievement in Film Editing, and other nominations 

Sonny Hayes was the most promising phenom in the 1990s in Formula 1 until an accident on the track. Thirty years later, his former teammate Ruben Cervantes convinces him to come back and drive alongside hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce for one last shot at being the best in the world. Sonny’s past catches up with him, and he finds that the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.

Blue Moon
Original Screenplay, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Ethan Hawke)

…You know how in marriage they say “for better or for worse”? I think, in terms of my life, I have entered the “for worse” part, and it happened so quietly I didn’t even recognize it. Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon tells the story of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart bravely facing the future as his professional and private life unravel at the opening night party for his former partner’s hit show Oklahoma! By the time this night is over, Hart will have confronted both a world that no longer values his talent and the seeming impossibility of love.

Elio
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

The cosmic misadventure introduces Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession. So, when he’s beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide, Elio’s all in for the epic undertaking. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien life-forms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions, and somehow discover who and where he is truly meant to be.

Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Best Documentary Feature Film

Pavel “Pasha” Talankin is a beloved Russian primary school teacher, known as a mentor and prankster who offers students a safe haven in his office. After Russia invades Ukraine, Pasha’s role in the school changes dramatically as he is reluctantly drawn into Putin’s propaganda machine. Forced to promote state-sanctioned messages and horrified by the transformation of his school and community, he struggles with guilt and a sense of powerlessness, leading him to become an international whistleblower. As the school’s videographer, Pasha documents intimate and revealing footage of Putin’s regime, capturing the rise of militarized children’s groups, repressive laws, fervent nationalism, and the recruitment of graduating students to fight in the war.

Jane Austen’s Period Drama
Best Live Action Short Film

England, 1813. In the middle of a long-awaited marriage proposal, Miss Estrogenia Talbot gets her period. Her suitor, Mr. Dickley, mistakes the blood for an injury, and it soon becomes clear that his expensive education has missed a spot.

Song Sung Blue
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Kate Hudson)

Based on an incredible true story, Mike and Claire are two down-on-their-luck musicians who prove that it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams. They form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band called Lightning and Thunder, rising from a humble garage to dive bar gigs to unexpected hometown stardom. When tragedy strikes, their love for each other and passion for music give them the strength to overcome hardships, rediscover hope, and inspire everyone around them.

Weapons
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Amy Madigan)

From writer-director Sam Levinson comes Weapons— a tense, unsettling thriller that explores violence, identity, and the darker side of American suburbia. When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

The Smashing Machine
Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

The true story of mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, whose obsession with greatness made him a legend — and nearly cost him everything. An epic about the courage to fight for something greater than victory.

Jurassic World Rebirth
Achievement in Visual Effects

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

KPop Demon Hunters: Soundtrack
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

KPop Demon Hunters, a Netflix film from Sony Pictures Animation, follows K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey – when they aren’t selling out stadiums, they use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise. The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack includes the new song “TAKEDOWN,” featuring Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung from K-pop powerhouse girl group, TWICE.

Soul on Fire

- Stephanie Leave a comment

If you’re looking for an inspirational movie, check out Soul On Fire, the story of John O’Leary who survived a terrible accident in 1987 that no one expected him to survive. This 2025 biographical drama focuses on John O’Leary, a St. Louis native, who was in a house fire in 1987 where he suffered severe burns on over 100% of his body. Discussing burn trauma, this movie explores themes of self-acceptance, redemption, and faith as John, his family, and the local community band together to walk with John through this tragic journey. This was a devastatingly powerful movie that is full of heartbreak and struggle as John’s life changes forever through one snap decision. John O’Leary has also written two books: On Fire: the 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life published in 2016 and In Awe: Rediscover your childlike wonder to unleash inspiration, meaning, and joy published in 2020.

Check out the Davenport Public Library’s programs! Did you know that we offer movie programs? One that I wanted to highlight is Tuesday Cinema. Happening on the first Tuesday of the month at 2:00pm at the Main branch downtown, we watch a popular movie recently released to DVD. For more program information, check our calendar of events online.

Anime Rom-Coms

- Elena Leave a comment

Last year, I wrote about romance manga, so this year I want to highlight on-screen love with these anime rom-coms. If you’re looking for a lighthearted romance to watch, these anime series are a perfect match! The following titles are all available through The Library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

My Love Story!!
Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They always go for his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn! Takeo can hardly believe it when he crosses paths with Yamato again, and he finds himself falling in love with her… But with handsome Sunakawa around, does Takeo even stand a chance?

A Sign of Affection
For hearing-impaired university student Yuki Itose, silence has been a natural part of life since birth. Her world is small and isolated; she commutes to campus, interacts with her best friend Rin Fujishiro, and communicates through writing and text messages—a lifestyle that offers little to no change. One day, during her commute, Yuki meets fellow student Itsuomi Nagi, a multilingual travel enthusiast and friend of Rin. When Itsuomi learns of Yuki’s condition, he takes it in stride, moving Yuki’s heart. From this one simple gesture, Yuki and Itsuomi’s lives start changing day by day as they let each other into their own worlds.

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague
For Himuro, being a descendant of a snow spirit is tough at the workplace when your emotions can lead to snow blasts with snowmen and igloos. Any emotionally charged incident with coworkers can trigger it—conflict, fun, and in this case, romance. And with his lovely and calm coworker Fuyutsuki, he gets more frozen, literally. Get ready for a snow-white office romance that blows in like a blizzard.

Love after World Domination
It’s love at first sight for Fudo and Desumi, except it was during a battle of life and death. Fudo, leader of the hero squad Gelato 5, and Desumi, the Death Queen of the evil society Gekko, have found themselves caught in a forbidden love—and it’s their first relationship! Moving in secrecy, they live holding hands with one weapon in the other, finding out what’s truly fair in love and war. Can they keep their romance a secret from across the battlefield?

How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer
College student Tokiwa gets invited to a mixer by his female classmate Suo. But when he arrives with his friends Asagi and Hagi, they’re greeted by three dazzlingly handsome men. Turns out these three cute boys are actually women in drag! They soon find themselves getting closer in unexpectedly heartwarming (and hilarious) ways.

Reincarnated as a…

- Elena Leave a comment

In recent years, reincarnation has become a common trope in manga and anime. The main character wakes up in a new body and discovers that they’ve reincarnated into a world of swords and magic. Luckily for them, they can use a unique power or their knowledge from our world to get ahead.

As the trope has become more popular, authors have expanded the range of reincarnations from fictional villains and side characters to non-human monsters and even objects. Check out following titles available through The Library. (Descriptions below provided by publishers.)

Reincarnated as a fictional character:

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom (Manga)
When a woman is reborn into an otome video game as the villainess, how can she play to win? A high school girl is stunned to find herself reincarnated as the conniving villainess from her favorite dating sim game, Fortune Lover. Now, as Catarina Claes, the impossibly rich and spoiled daughter of a Duke, her new life seems to perfectly sync up with the world of the game. This means big trouble! No matter how the game turned out, there were only two fates for Catarina: exile or death!

The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices (Manga)
After reincarnating into her favorite BL novel, Maki (now Octavia) has the perfect opportunity to fangirl over her favorite fictional couple, Sil and Prince Sirius, in real life—except she’s Sirius’s sister?! If that isn’t awkward enough, she’s expected to give up her firstborn child to be their heir! But the new Octavia won’t settle for a political marriage just to produce a baby. Her brother overcame many obstacles to be with the man of his dreams, and Octavia is prepared to do the same! Of course, she actually has to find a guy first…

Villainess Level 99: I May Be The Hidden Boss But I’m Not The Demon Lord (Anime)
This college kid wants nothing more than a quiet life. So when she’s reborn as Yumiella, the hidden villainess of an Otome RPG, she’s not exactly thrilled. Still yearning for peace, she abandons her evil duties to live a more discreet life. Until her gamer side kicks in and she accidentally reaches level 99! Now, everyone suspects that she’s the infamous Demon Lord. What future awaits her?

I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History (Anime)
This young girl hates all those goodie-two-shoes heroines. So when she’s reincarnated as Alicia, the villain in her favorite fantasy dating sim, it’s like a dream come true! Now as Alicia, she’s ditching romance to be the world’s greatest villainess. There’s just one problem: the more she tries to be evil, the more the prince seems to fall for her. Alicia will have to work much harder if she ever wants to become the world’s greatest villainess.

Reincarnated as an object:

Reincarnated as a Sword (Manga) and Reincarnated as a Sword (Anime)
Live by the sword. Fran is a fiery, cat-eared girl whose luck couldn’t be worse–orphaned, consigned to slavery, and finally attacked by monsters. But everything changes when she finds a legendary talking sword. Inside the sword is the soul of a man from Earth, in search of answers about how he reached his current state. The two seal a pact to become sword and wielder, sharing power and magic between them. Together, Fran and sword cut their way to freedom, and the life of adventure that lies beyond!

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon (Anime)
The future of this fantasy world now lies in the hands of…a vending machine! Boxxo was once a human, until he died in an accident and was reincarnated as a sentient piece of machinery. While he can still hear and see, there’s no way for him to move by himself or speak more than his programmed phrases. How can he make the most of this strange new life?

Reincarnated as a monster:

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Manga)
Mikami’s middle age hasn’t gone as he planned: He never found a girlfriend, he got stuck in a dead-end job, and he was abruptly stabbed to death in the street at 37. So when he wakes up in a new world straight out of a fantasy RPG, he’s disappointed but not exactly surprised to find that he’s not a knight or a wizard but a blind slime demon. But there are chances for even a slime to become a hero…

So I’m a Spider, So What? (Manga)
I was your average, everyday high school girl, but now I’ve been reborn in a magical world–as a spider?! Wait–this isn’t how these stories are supposed to go! Can I get a do-over? No? But how am I supposed to survive in this big, scary dungeon as one of the weakest monsters? It’s “every spider for herself” in here! I gotta figure out the rules to this quick, or I’ll be kissing my short second life good-bye.

Woof Woof Story: I Told You to Turn Me Into a Pampered Pooch, Not Fenrir! (Manga)
“I just want an easy life, even as some rich person’s dog…” As corporate slave Routa Okami keels over in the middle of his busy office, he imagines how nice it would have been to live as the pet of some rich family instead of working himself to death. But when a goddess actually grants that wish and brings him back to life as a pampered pooch, Routa realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for…

Skeleton Knight in Another World (Anime)
When Arc wakes up, he discovers that he has been transported to another world in the body of the character he was playing in an MMO. Looking like a suit of armor on the outside and a skeleton on the inside, he is the Skeleton Knight. If his identity is discovered, he could be mistaken for a monster and become a target! Arc decides to spend his time as a mercenary so as not to attract attention to himself. However, he’s not the kind of man who can stand idly by when he witnesses evil acts take place right before his eyes!

During the month of January, look for the “New Year, New Me: Reincarnation Stories” displays at all three branches for more reincarnation fiction.

Movies for Urban Fiction Readers

- Elena Leave a comment

Urban fiction, also known as street lit, is a literary genre focused on the lives of characters in urban settings. This genre explores themes of crime, poverty, and street culture. If you enjoy reading urban fiction, check out the following movie titles available at The Library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

Trouble Man

Jaxen, a former cop turned Atlanta PI, is hired to find missing R&B star Jahari. His investigation uncovers her disappearance is connected to a larger conspiracy, forcing him to question those around him and his own past.

1992

In 1992, Mercer is desperately trying to rebuild his life and relationship with his son amidst the turbulent 1992 LA uprising following the Rodney King verdict. Across town, another father and son put their own strained relationship to the test as they plot a dangerous heist to steal catalytic converters, which contain valuable platinum, from the factory where Mercer works. As tensions rise in Los Angeles and chaos erupts, both families reach their boiling points when they collide.

Charm City Kings

In this stirring coming-of-age drama, 14-year-old Mouse and his best friends Lamont and Sweartagawd desperately want to join The Midnight Clique, an infamous group of dirt bikers who rule West Baltimore’s summertime streets. Following the tragic death of his older brother Stro, a legendary Midnight rider, Mouse is determined to win the respect of the neighborhood, help provide for his family, and above all, be a man. As his mom Teri and mentor Detective Rivers work overtime to help the bright, charismatic teen reach his full potential, Midnight’s leader, Blax, takes Mouse under his wing, an act of kindness that inadvertently leads Mouse down a road paved with fast money and violence.

Kings of L.A.

A young man reaches a critical point in his life as he struggles to navigate the changing gentrification of his neighborhood. Pressured by gangs, the temptations of easy money and the culture shifts around him in South Central as he tries to figure out how to survive when everyone wants a piece of him and his neighborhood.

The Gutter

Walt lands work at bowling alley AlleyCatz, but it’s struggling financially. Encouraged by a barfly named Skunk, he launches a pro career to save the bowling alley from foreclosure. With his powerful rolling skills and unconventional style, Walt becomes an unlikely bowling hero — much to the chagrin of legendary champion Linda “The Crusher” Curson.

CLAMP

- Elena Leave a comment

As a classic manga enthusiast, one of my all-time favorite authors is CLAMP. An all-women manga group formed in 1987, CLAMP began creating their original manga works in the 1990s. Early works from the group contributed to the beloved style of 90s shoujo manga. The group continued to write iconic manga series across multiple genres, including magical girl, isekai, dark fantasy, and romantic comedy. The following CLAMP series are available for checkout through the Library. (Descriptions below provided by publishers.)

Cardcaptor Sakura
Cardcaptor Sakura is one of the all-time classics of the magical girl genre, and the Collector’s Edition will be the definitive version of the story, for both long-time fans and readers new to the story. The adventures of the plucky Sakura Kinomoto are as adorably thrilling as ever, as she tracks down the magical Clow Cards and plunges headlong into a world of sorcery beyond anything she could’ve imagined.

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card 
Sakura Kinomoto’s about to start middle school, and everything’s coming up cherry blossoms. Not only has she managed to recapture the scattered Clow Cards and make them her own Sakura Cards, but her sweetheart Syaoran Li has moved from Hong Kong to Tokyo and is going to be attending her school! But her joy is interrupted by a troubling dream in which the cards turn transparent, and when Sakura awakens to discover her dream has become reality, it’s clear that her magical adventures are far from over…

Magic Knight Rayearth
CLAMP’s masterwork Magic Knight Rayearth—now in a new translation! This update of the manga classic forms the centerpiece to any CLAMP collection and is also a fantastic introduction to girl-powered adventure manga—perfect for fans of Sailor Moon and She-Ra. While on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, three teenage girls cross a magical portal and are transported to another world called Cefiro. There they are summoned through the last remaining strength of the Princess Emeraude, who believes the trio will become the magic knights who will save her, as prophesied by legend.

Gate 7
An innocent sightseeing trip to Kyoto opens up a magical realm to shy high schooler Chikahito Takamoto! Visiting a legendary shrine, Chikahito finds himself in the mystical world of Hana and her comrades—and his immunity to their powers leads them to believe that he’s no ordinary, awkward teenager! Protecting our world from violent elemental beasts, Hana and her team welcomes the confused Chikahito—who isn’t quite sure that he wants to be caught in the middle of their war! One’s thing’s certain, though, since he’s smitten with aloof, childlike warrior Hana, he’s along for the ride, for better or worse!

Chobits
After moving from the countryside into the big city, poor college student Hideki Motosuwa finds himself down on his luck. All he wants is a good job, a girlfriend, and his very own “persocom” – the latest and greatest in humanoid computer technology. Hideki’s luck changes one night when he finds Chi – an adorable, but seemingly broken, persocom thrown out in a pile of trash. After taking her home, Hideki discovers that Chi is more responsibility than he expected – and that there’s much more to his cute new persocom than meets the eye.

Prefer watching to reading? Check out these animated adaptations of CLAMP works.

Cardcaptor Sakura, Movie 2: The Sealed Card
With all 52 Clow Cards captured, Sakura should be looking forward to a summer of freedom, yet Syaoran’s last words linger in her heart still. Meanwhile, the demolition of Eriol Hiiragizawa’s former home reveals a threat both new and yet familiar. When cousins Shaoran and Meiling Li return from Hong Kong to pay a surprise visit to their friends in Japan, Sakura receives further encouragement to finally declare her feelings. Will Sakura be able to return Syaoran’s feelings? Or will the hope of something pure be swallowed by the fear of lonely nothingness?

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, The Complete Season
Sakura had managed to capture all of the Clow Cards which could bring disaster to the world and turned them into her own Sakura Cards. Now it’s spring. With cherry trees in full blossom, Sakura is just entering middle school. Her beloved Syaoran has returned from Hong Kong, and Sakura was thrilled to be going to school with him again. But one night, something strange happens to her Cards…

xxxHolic, First collection and Second collection
There is no such thing as coincidence; there is only the inevitable… Watanuki has been haunted by dark spirits his entire life, a curse flowing through his bloodline preventing peace. When his incessant demons drag him to the ornate door of the Dimensional Witch Yuko, he meets a mystical woman of insight and luxury, quick to help those in a bind…for a fee! One might very well end up paying with their soul! To be free of his visions, Watanuki will work in her shop of dreams and wishes.

Introduction to Photography

- Paige Leave a comment

Photography has never been more accessible with the rise of technology allowing us the ability to have a high-quality camera in our pocket at all times. Whether you just want to take better pictures while on a hike, during your summer travels, or even want to take a step towards photography becoming a career, here are some materials we have here at Davenport Public Library! Access through coming into the library, our online catalog, or the streaming service, Kanopy, with your Davenport Library card! All descriptions are provided by the publisher.

Book:

The beginner’s photography guide: the ultimate step-by-step manual for getting the most from your camera and phone

From choosing the right equipment and aperture exposure to adjusting focus and flash, The Beginner’s Photography Guide explains key concepts in clear and simple terms to help you maximize the features of your camera.

Getting Your Shot: stunning photos, how-to tips, and endless inspiration from the pros

In this inspirational how-to photography book, the photo experts at National Geographic share their invaluable tips, advice and insights alongside more than 200 breathtaking photos–from glorious landscapes to intimate moments, from black-and-white to exuberant color, from the exotic to the homespun. These stunning and evocative photos, drawn from National Geographic’s thriving online photography community “Your Shot,” provide inspiration for photographers of all skill levels. This book reveals inside stories on how the featured photographers were able to get these incredible shots, and is filled with encouragement and inspiration for the artist and dreamer inside all of us.

Lonely Planet’s Guide to travel photography

Return from your travels with the pictures you’ve always wanted in this fourth edition of Lonely Planet’s best-selling Travel Photography, internationally renowned travel photographer Richard I. Anson shows you how to avoid common photography mistakes and to develop your compositional and technical skills as a photographer.

The camera bag companion: your personal photography tutor

Imagine having your personal, professional photographer with you whenever you go out to shoot. There to guide you, share their knowledge, and inspire you to take better photographs. In his latest book, Benedict Brain puts himself in your kitbag, with a beautifully illustrated how-to guide that’s as essential as any lens or tripod, and cuts through the jargon to deliver clear advice in a friendly, conversational style.

DVD:

Binge box. Outdoor photography — beginner’s guide

Beginners guide to outdoor photography/Beginner’s guide to manual mode: The learning curve for photography can be very steep for many, and it’s often filled with frustration. Multiple camera settings can clutter the mind of someone simply trying to create a beautiful image. In this video instructional class, your Instructor David Johnston will teach you about camera settings that will simplify the photography process.

Streaming (Kanopy):

Fundamentals of Photography

With Fundamentals of Photography, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the art and craft of great photography straight from Joel Sartore, a National Geographer photographer with more than 30 years of experience. Designed for people at all levels, these 24 episodes are an engaging guide to how photographs work and how to make them work better for you.

Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Photography

Master the basics of outdoor photography to create beautiful images. In this class you’ll learn all about camera settings for shutter speed, exposure, f-stops, range of focus and more. Once you understand camera settings and how to use them, you’ll be able make the camera work for you to find the best balance of light and compose your best photos yet.

Landscape & Wildlife Photography

National Geographic photographers Michael Melford and Tim Laman reveal stories and secrets about great landscape and wildlife photography. Taking you around the world, their 24 visually rich lectures present the art of seeing that’s key to taking unforgettable photos of desert cliffs, penguin colonies, dramatic waterfalls, and more.

 

What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? Let us know in the comments!

Video Game Adaptations

- Elena Leave a comment

The Summer Reading Program is here, and the theme is Level Up at Your Library! Video game adaptations are dominating the big screen, television, and streaming platforms. Checkout the following titles available at The Library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

Arcane: League of Legends
Based on champions and lore from the League of Legends universe, Arcane follows the story of two orphaned sisters, Vi and Powder, as they fight to make a name for themselves in the derelict, underground alleyways of Zaun. Dreaming of a day when they can experience some of the wealth and opulence of the city of Piltover just above them, Vi, Powder, and friends undertake a seemingly simple heist that, unbeknownst to them, will forever alter their destinies and the fate of both cities. Arcane assembles a powerful cast of characters in a thrilling clash of power and politics as they grapple with magical forces beyond their understanding. Riot Games and Fortiche Productions bring the world of League of Legends to life with heart-wrenching storytelling and an animation style all its own in this Emmy-winning series.

Uncharted
Street-smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Santiago Moncada, who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother … but only if they can learn to work together.

The Last of Us
In 2003, a parasitic fungal infection ravaged the planet, turning humans into violent creatures known as the Infected. Twenty years later, hardened survivor Joel is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie to the rebel Fireflies. What should have been a quick job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey across a post-apocalyptic United States, where no one can protect Joel or Ellie except each other.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.

Still catching up? The Library also has Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 available for checkout.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
Set in 1998, this origin story explores the secrets of the mysterious Spencer Mansion and the ill-fated Raccoon City. Once the booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City is now a dying Midwestern town. The company’s exodus left the city a wasteland… with great evil brewing below the surface. When that evil is unleashed, a group of survivors must work together to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and make it through the night.

During the month of June, look for the “Level Up!: Video Game Adaptations” displays at all three branches for more recommendations.

High-quality learning through library-provided Great Courses

- Beth Leave a comment

Aimed at lifelong learners, The Great Courses is a series of college-level courses designed to deliver high-quality learning experiences outside of a lecture hall. Through audio and video, and with supplemental print materials, you can pursue lifelong learning and personal enrichment in science, history, literature, religion, and more, with no tests or homework.

Here is just a sampling of Great Courses available through the Davenport Public Library on DVD or streaming through Kanopy.

How to plan for the perfect retirement — (on DVD and Kanopy) — Learn how to secure your financial future and create the retirement lifestyle of your dreams with practical advice for planners of any age and income level. Professor Dana Anspach of Sensible Money, LLC will be your step-by-step guide to help you create the future you want. No matter how old you are or how far along in your working life, it’s never too early or too late to develop a plan that works for you.

Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literacy — (on DVD and Kanopy) — The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) has teamed up with The Great Courses to lead you step by step through the history, evolution, science, and impact of misinformation, and to arm you with the very skills needed to defuse the threat of misinformation media and become a more savvy media consumer. Learn how to reduce the threat of misinformation from local, national, and international sources and ensure the validity of the information you share.

When everything fails: surviving any disaster — (on DVD and Kanopy) — Living through a disaster is not a question of if, it’s a question of when. This course offers a practical guide for protecting the individual, their family, and their community. Taught by Professor Stephen Owen of Radford University, these fourteen fast-paced lectures will arm viewers with information for planning ahead so they can prepare for the effects of a disaster or catastrophe.

America’s long struggle against slavery — (on DVD and Kanopy) — Survey the history of the American anti-slavery movement, from the dawn of the transatlantic slave trade during the late 15th century to the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and beyond. Professor Richard Bell’s 30 eye-opening episodes give you an up-close view of a venal institution and the people who fought against it, and who often paid for their courage with their lives.

The Korean Wave: K-Dramas

- Elena Leave a comment

Have you heard the term “hallyu?” “Hallyu,” also called the “Korean Wave,” refers to the increasing global popularity of South Korean pop culture, including music, film, television, and comics.

This popularity includes Korean television, better known as “K-Dramas.” K-Dramas typically run for a single season and span a wide variety of genres, from romance comedies to historical period dramas to crime thrillers. Interested in learning more about K-Dramas? Davenport Public Library has you covered! Check out the following K-Drama titles, available for checkout on DVD at the library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

Queen of Tears
The queen of department stores and her small-town husband weather a marital crisis — until love miraculously begins to bloom again. Baek Hyun Woo, who is the pride of the village of Yongduri, is the legal director of the conglomerate Queen’s group, while Chaebol heiress Hong Hae in is the “Queen” of Queens group’s department stores. “Queen of Tears” will tell the miraculous, thrilling, and humorous love story of this married couple, who manage to survive a crisis and stay together against all odds.

See You in My 19th Life
Ban Ji Eum has the ability to remember all her past lives, living through countless reincarnations for nearly a thousand years. After a tragic accident ends her previous life, she seeks to reconnect with the people from that life, focusing on Moon Seo Ha, whom she met in her 18th life. As she navigates her 19th life, will memories of her past hinder her romance, or can love endure across lifetimes?

A Business Proposal
Shin Ha Ri, nursing unrequited feelings for a male friend, discovers he has a girlfriend. Seeking solace, she agrees to impersonate her wealthy friend, Jin Young Seo, on a blind date. To her surprise, her date is Kang Tae Moo, the CEO of her workplace. Kang Tae Moo, pressured by his grandfather to marry, decides to wed the next woman he meets on a blind date to end the interference in his work life. Unaware of Shin Ha Ri’s true identity, he proposes to her the next day, setting the stage for a romantic entanglement.

Reborn Rich
After serving the Jin family and Soonyang Group faithfully for years, Yoon Hyeon Woo is embroiled in their succession battle and tragically murdered as collateral damage. Miraculously, fate gives him a chance to exact his revenge when he finds he’s brought back in time inside the body of Jin Do Jun, the youngest grandson of Soonyang Group. Using his new identity and knowledge of the future, Do Jun plots a hostile takeover of the Soonyang Group. Will Do Jun succeed in his revenge and find his murderer?

Perfect Marriage Revenge
Han Yi Joo naively tries to see the best in everyone, though she’s shunned and betrayed by a family who never loved her. After a terrible accident at the hands of her mother, Yi Joo unexpectedly finds herself transported back in time. Realizing she has a second chance to change her fate, Yi Joo teams up with wealthy tycoon Seo Do Guk to exact revenge on those who’ve wronged her. Will this new alliance allow Yi Joo to create the life she’s always wanted?

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
As a newly married woman in 19th-century Korea, Park Yeon Woo’s life should have been a happy one. But when her new husband dies shortly after their wedding, her life goes from bad to worse when she’s kidnapped and thrown down a well. What should have been the end of her story turns out to be just the beginning when her fall into the well lands her in a swimming pool in modern-day Korea. Fished out by Kang Tae Ha, Yeon Woo soon finds herself presented with a strange request: to join him in a contract marriage. Lost in a strange new world, will Yeon Woo agree to make a dying man’s wish come true?

During the month of May, look for the “Hallyu: The Korean Wave” displays at all three branches for more Korean pop culture recommendations.