Tag: movies

Holiday Movies

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Love Christmas movies but can’t seem to find the right ones on television? Try one of these classic titles, old and new, from the library. Fix a cup of hot chocolate, sit back and relax.

Christmas Carol – various versions

Classic Dickens story about a bitter old man who’s given a chance for redemption when three ghosts come to visit him on Christmas Eve.

A Christmas Story – Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin

Ralphie Parker, a 1940s nine-year-old, pulls out all the stops to obtain the ultimate Christmas present- a Red Rider BB gun- in this delightfully funny holiday movie.

Elf – Will Farrell, Bob Newhart

A young orphan child mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag and is transported back to the North Pole to be raised as an elf. Years later, Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York to find his true identity.

Fred Claus – Vince Vaughn, Elizabeth Banks

Fred Claus has lived in his little brother’s shadow for most of his life. Fred is in jail and Nicholas has to bail him out on the condition he come to the North Pole and repay his debt.

Miracle on 34th Street – Natalie Wood, Maureen O’Hara

The real Santa is hired by Macy’s to play Santa in the Thanksgiving Day parade, but he has to prove in court that he is who he says he is.

Holiday Inn – Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby

Two song and dance men join together and start a hotel that’s open only on holidays.

It’s a Wonderful Life – Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed

George is saved from a suicide attempt by an angel and is then shown how important he is to the people who love him. A Christmas classic.

White Christmas – Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney

The classic musical about two guys that become a popular song-and-dance team and play at a resort for charity.

DVDs for December

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December 2

Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian – Ben Barnes, Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton

“Prince Caspian” finds the Pevensie siblings back into the land of Narnia where a thousand years have passed since they left. The children are once again enlisted to join the colorful creatures of Narnia in combating an evil villain who prevents the rightful Prince from ruling the land. imdb

also: The Longshots, Step Brothers, Wanted, X Files I want to Believe

December 9

Dark Knight – Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker. imdb

also: Horton Hears a Who

December 16

Mamma Mia – Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Waters, Colin Firth

Set on a colorful Greek island, the plot serves as a background for a wealth of great ABBA songs which are used in remarkably appropriate ways. A young woman about to be married discovers that any one of three men could be her father. She invites all three to the wedding without telling her mother, Donna, who was once the lead singer of Donna and the Dynamos. In the meantime, Donna has invited her backup singers, Rosie and Tanya. imdb

also: The Mummy – The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

December 23

Burn after Reading – George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton

A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it. imdb

also: The Women

An Alternative to Parades and Football

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For those who don’t like parades or football, try a Thanksgiving movie:

Alice’s Restaurant (1969) – Arlo Guthrie

Arlo Guthrie’s song is converted into a motion picture. Arlo goes to see Alice for Thanksgivng and as a favor takes her trash to the dump. When the dump is closed, he drops it on top of another pile of garbage at the bottom of a ravine. When the local sheriff finds out a major manhunt begins. Arlo manages to survive the courtroom experience but it haunts him when he is to be inducted into the army via the draft

Home for the Holidays (1995) – Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft

After losing her job, making out with her soon to be ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson has to face spending the holiday with her family. She wonders if she can survive their crazy antics.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown’s for Thanksgiving, and with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, he attempts to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner.

Pieces of April (2003) – Katie Holmes, Oliver Platt

April Burns (Holmes) invites her family to Thanksgiving dinner at her teeny apartment on New York’s Lower East Side. As they make their way to the city from suburban Pennsylvania, April must endure a comedy of errors – like finding out her oven doesn’t work – in order to pull off the big event.

Ice Storm (1997) – Kevin Kline, Joan Allen

In the weekend after Thanksgiving 1973, the Hoods are skidding out of control. Benjamin Hood reels from drink to drink, trying not to think about his trouble at the office. His wife, Elena, is reading self help books and losing patience with her husband’s lies. Their son, Paul, home for the holidays, escapes to the city to pursue an alluring rich girl from his prep school. And young, budding nymphomaniac, Wendy Hood roams the neighborhood, innocently exploring liquor cabinets and lingerie drawers of her friends’ parents, looking for something new. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century and things get bad…

DVDs for November

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Watch for these movies coming soon to the Davenport Public Library. Remember, DVDs check-out for one week and there is no rental charge!

November 4

Get Smart – Alan Arkin, Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson

Bungling secret agent Maxwell Smart is on a mission to battle the forces of the evil crime nemesis known as KAOS with his more-competent partner Agent 99, (whose real name is never revealed) at his side. When the headquarters of U.S. spy agency CONTROL is attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Maxwell Smart, who has always dreamed of working in the field. Smart will do whatever it takes to thwart the latest plot for world domination by KAOS. – IMDB

November 18

Wall-E – Voices of Kathy Najimy, John Ratzenberger, Sigourney Weaver, Fred Willard

In a distant but not so unrealistic future, where mankind has abandoned earth because it has become covered with trash, WALL-E, a garbage collecting robot, has been left to clean up the mess. One day, Eve, a sleek (and dangerous) reconnaissance robot is sent to earth to find proof that life is once again sustainable. WALL-E falls in love with Eve and rescues Eve from a dust storm. One day a massive ship comes to reclaim Eve, and WALL-E, out of love or loneliness, hitches a ride on the outside of the ship. IMDB

November 25

Hancock – Jason Bateman, Johnny Galecki, Will Smith, Charlize Theron

John Hancock is an unhappy and reluctant superhero. Hancock is depressed and has started drinking heavily. He has saved many lives in Los Angeles over the years, but in doing so, he has had no regard for damaging buildings, trains, roads, cars, or anything that gets in his way of getting the job done. The public has had enough of Hancock, and they want him to stop or go to another city. Then one day Hancock saves Ray Embrey from being run over by a train. Embrey, a public relations executive, owes Hancock his life and he makes it his mission to change the superhero’s image. IMDB

DVDs for October

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Coming October 7

The Visitor – Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass

In a world of six billion people, it only takes one to change your life. Richard Jenkins stars as a disillusioned Connecticut economics professor whose life is transformed by a chance encounter in New York City when he discovers two illegal immigrants living in his city apartment.

Sleeping Beauty – 50th Anniversary Edition

Don’t Mess with the Zohan – Adam Sandler

Coming October 14

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom the Crystal Skull – Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchet

Indy’s back and more fun than ever. Set during the Cold War, this time Indy’s nemesis is the Soviet Union and the race is for the ultimate power to control people. Sly references to the first three films, the return of a favorite character and a new sidekick keep things fun and the action lively.

Mongol: the Rise of Genghis Khan

Coming October 21

The Incredible Hulk – Edward Norton, Liv Tyler

Mild-mannered scientist Bruce Banner has searched the world for a cure for his affliction, caused by a military experiment gone wrong. Whenever his emotions get the better of him he turns into a raging, green monster – the Hulk. Banner struggles to avoid the pursuit of the military and battles a new and fearsome monster.

DVDs for September

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September 16

Made of Honor – Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan

Tom and Hannah have been platonic friends for years. He’s a serial dater, while she wants marriage but hasn’t found Mr. Right. Just as Tom is starting to think that he is relationship material after all, Hannah gets engaged. When she asks Tom to be her “maid” of honor, he reluctantly agrees just so he can attempt to stop the wedding and woo her.

Also coming out September 16

Another Cinderella Story

Speed Racer

September 23

The Leatherheads – George Clooney, Rene Zellweger

A romantic comedy set against the backdrop of America’s start-up pro-football league in 1925. Dodge Connolly, a charming, brash football hero, is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. Carter Rutherford, a golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field. Lexie Littleton is a spitfire newswoman who suspects there are holes in Carter’s war story. As the new game of pro-football becomes less like the freewheeling sport he knew and loved, Dodge must both fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams.

Also coming out September 23

Deception

Sex and the City

September 30

Iron Man – Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Palthrow

Tony Stark is the complete playboy who also happens to be an engineering genius. While in Afghanistan demonstrating a new missile, he’s captured and wounded. His captors want him to assemble a missile for them but instead he creates an armored suit which uses to escape. Back in the U.S. he announces his company will cease making weapons and he begins work on an updated armored suit only to find that his second in command at Stark Industries has been selling weapons to the insurgents. Tony must use his new suit to return to Afghanistan in an attempt to destroy the arms and to stop Stane from misusing his research.

Also coming out September 30

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Taxi to the Dark Side

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

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Beautiful, epic, sweeping, mystical, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a revelation to many when it was released in 2000. Starring Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh, it is also the story of unrequited love set against the grand sweep of China’s landscape.

A magical, powerful sword is stolen by a notorious thief and two renowned warriors go in pursuit to return it to its rightful owner. A series of breathtaking, fluid fight sequences follow (including one particularly memorable one taking place in windblown treetops) as the protagonists square off against each other. In addition, the stories of two contrasting love affairs unfold and the bonds of duty, honor, sacrifice and loyalty are tested.

Visually stunning, at turns melancholy, soaring, wistful and spiritual, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won four Academy Awards including Best Foreign Language film.

New DVDs for August

- Ann Leave a comment

August 5

Nim’s Island – Starring Abigail Breslin, Gerald Butler, and Jodie Foster.

Nim’s Island is the story of a girl named Nim who lives on a beautiful uncharted island with her father Jack, a research scientist. Nim spends her days exploring the beautiful island and reading. When her father is lost at sea after a storm, Nim contacts her favorite writer of adventure stories, Alex Rover, convinced he will know what to do. What Nim doesn’t realize is that “Alex” is really Alexandra, a woman who is afraid to leave her house. Will Jack survive? Will Alexandra find the courage to come out of her shell? An adventure story about the courage in each of us, Nim’s Island will delight the whole family.

August 12

Smart People – starring Thomas Haden Church, Christie Lahti, Ellen Page, Sarah Jessica Parker and Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid stars as a bitter, washed out widower in Smart People, a film that tackles the lives of several seriously unhappy people in surprisingly funny and touching ways. A hated literature professor at Carnegie Mellon, Lawrence Wetherhold has been earning the scorn of his students, colleagues, and family since the death of his wife several years ago. A health scare, an unexpected visit from his adopted brother, and a new romantic interest shake things up and stir Lawrence from his constant misery. Fine performances and a sharp script make this a must-see movie.

August 19th

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day – Starring Amy Adams and Frances McDormand

In 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew is a middle-aged governess who finds herself once again unfairly dismissed from her job. Without so much as severance pay, Miss Pettigrew realizes that she must seize the day and intercepts an employment assignment for a social secretary. Arriving at a penthouse apartment for the interview, Miss Pettigrew is catapulted into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse. This funny and delightful movie proves that following your heart is right thing to do.

A Very Long Engagement

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Today marks the anniversary of the official beginning of World War I on July 28, 1914. Now often overshadowed by the popularity of fiction and non-fiction of World War II, the First World War saw the introduction of many aspects of modern warfare including the first use of armored tanks and airplanes as fighters as well as the horrors of trench warfare and mustard gas. And although it was known as the “war to end all wars”, in many ways it contributed to the causes of the Second World War.

Poignant, horrific yet ultimately hopeful, the French language film A Very Long Engagement starring Audrey Tautou is set against the backdrop of the end of the war and it’s aftermath. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Mathilde refuses to believe that her fiance has died in the war. She launches an investigation, a search that introduces a multitude of interlocking stories and incidents. The movie shifts from the couple’s courtship before the war to the horrors of the trenches to Mathilde’s determined search after the war and back again. Throughout, Mathilde’s charm, intelligence and most of all faith remain unshakable and will make you believe too.

Know a teen that would like to see their shorts on the big screen?

- Ann Leave a comment

making moviesThe really big screen!

We’re having a film festival for teens of the Quad Cities. For full details, call the Davenport Public Library at 563-326-7893. But a bit of information now might help. The Quad-City area Public Libraries have put out a call for entries for our first ever YouTube film fest. We would like teens to create a 3 to 5 minute film that they post to a special account on YouTube.com and turn in to us.

To make this even more fun, the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre® have invited us to have a Red Carpet Event to showcase the winners. Prizes will be awarded for movies selected by the librarians and by audience choice.

So join us for the event on Thursday, March 13 at 7:00 PM as area teens present their YouTube movie on the giant IMAX® screen.

No registration is required for the free screening on the 13th, but teens must register their entries by March 8th. Entry forms are at both the Main and Fairmount libraries, or any local public library. More information is also online at www.davenportlibrary.com.