Movies, Music, and More

I had the opportunity to see the musical Footloose over the weekend which was an enjoyable revamp of the classic 80's movie starring Kevin Bacon.  Seeing the musical got me thinking about about the many 80's movies that featured such great music to the point where when you hear the song now you say "that's the song from ..."  Check out my picks for 80's movies with great music and please feel free to recommend your own favorites:

• Footloose (Songs- Footloose by Kenny Loggins, Almost Paradise by Ann Wilson & Mike Reno)
• Dirty Dancing (Song- (I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes)
• Top Gun (Song- Take My Breath Away by Berlin; You've Lost that Loving Feeling by The Righteous Brothers)
• The Breakfast Club (Song- Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds)
• Back to the Future (Song- The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & the News)
• Cocktail (Song- Kokamo by The Beach Boys)
• Rocky III (Song- Eye of the Tiger by Survivor)
• Ghost (Song- Unchained Medley by (The Righteous Brothers)
• Risky Business (Song- Old Time Rock & Roll by Bob Seger)

Enjoy AMC's Mad Men? Well, then maybe you'll want to check out some off the books that characters have read.

There has long been a debate over whether it is better to read the book first and then watch the movie or vice versa. Some will argue that it's better to first read the book as you will get the most complete version of the story as the movie almost always leaves something out. Others will argue it's better to watch the movie first as the book is almost always better so this way you can enjoy the movie without the prejudice of the book.

If you're one of those who prefer watching the movie first you'll be exited to learn that the best selling book The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is now released on DVD and is available to request here at Brookfield.   The movie was produced in its native Sweden & has English subtitles.  So if you want to see the story that's got everyone talking, put in a request for the DVD of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo today!

If you're a fan of rock music and missed seeing the movie Pirate Radio when Marty showed it in May, I recommend checking it out.  Not being around in the 1960's I knew that rock music was controversial but didn't realize that in some places it was actually banned from playing on the radio.  Pirate Radio tells the story of the British government's attempted ban of pirate radio and its defiance by the fictional pirate station ship, "Radio Rock."   With a soundtrack as good as the movie Pirate Radio will keep you remembering the 1960's.

If rock movies are your thing, check out these other great titles:

• Gimme Shelter
• This Is Spinal Tap
• Woodstock
• Almost Famous
• Roustabout
• That Thing You Do!
• Saturday Night Fever

The 2010 winners of the Audie Awards, the award recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association:

Audiobook of the Year:  NELSON MANDELA'S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES

Audio Drama:  THE WORD OF PROMISE AUDIO BIBLE

Audiobook Adaptaion:  THE MALTESE FALCON

Biography/Memoir:   ANNE FRANK REMEMBERED

Business/Educational:  RAIN

Children's Titles, Ages 8-12:  OPERATION YES

Children's Titles, Ages up to 8:  LOUISE, THE ADVENTURES OF A CHICKEN

Classic:  GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Fiction:  THE HELP

History:  TEARS IN THE DARKNESS

Humor:  CHURCH PEOPLE

Inspiration/Faith-Based Fiction:  A MONTH OF SUMMER

Inspiration/Faith-Based Non-Fiction:  THE WORD OF PROMISE AUDIO BIBLE

Literary Fiction:  WOLF HALL

Multi-voiced Performance:  NELSON MANDELA'S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES

Mystery & Suspence:  DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS

Narration by the Author(s):  ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS

Non-fiction:  THE NATIONAL PARKS

Original Work:  TELL ME A STORY

Personal Development:  NURTURESHOCK

Romance:  THE UNTAMED BRIDE

Science Fiction / Fantasy:  BELLWETHER

Short Stories / Collections:  BLACK MASK AUDIO MAGAZINE, VOL. 1

Teens:  PEACE, LOCOMOTION

Thriller / Suspense:  DARLING JIM

Get your name in early for these hot new DVD releases:

• Nine (5/4/10)
• Leap Year  (5/4/10)
• Legion (5/11/10)
• Edge of Darkness (5/11/10)
• Invictus (5/18/10)
• Extraordinary Measures (5/18/10)
• Valentine's Day 5/18/10)
• Dear John (5/25/10)
• The Road (5/25/10)
• True Blood Season 2 (5/25/10)

On April 10 ,2010, a plane crash took the lives of 97 members of Poland's political and cultural elite (including the Polish President).  The delegation was en route to Katyn for a ceremony honoring the Polish nationals who died in the massacre carried out by the Russian secret police in 1940.  In honor of these tragedies there are different opportunities coming up to learn more about the Katyn massacre.

On Friday April 30 at 9 pm PBS will be airing the documentary Katyn: Slaughter & Silence.   A VHS copy of this documentary is also available in SWAN.  Also, on Sunday May 16, the Brookfield Public Library will be showing the feature film Katyn.  Local Polish Historian & film expert Eric Raciborski will also lead discussion on this film and the historic event.

Animated movies have a reputation as being "kids only" however there are a number of great titles out there that kids and kids at heart will enjoy. 

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Inspired by the picture book of the same name, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs tells the story of of a town that's weather take the form of food- like snowing ice cream and hailing hamburgers.   Inventor Flint Lockwood was the town misfit until his newest invention gave the town all the food they could dream of and he went from loser to hero.  But when the town starts getting greedy their weather food gets out of control.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox 

George Clooney leads an all star vocal cast as Mr. Fox- a quasi retired farm thief fox who starts decides to scratch that thieving itch with one last raid on the 3 meanest farmers around, Boggis, Bunce and Bean.  But when his raid goes south and his escapadesput the whole wild animal community in danger, they must band together to save the day and defeat the 3 farmers.  Based on the children's novel by Roald Dahl.

Think you know who will win the Oscars this year?  Enter our 2010 Oscar Challenge.  The person with the most correct entries will win a copy of this year's Best Picture.  The last day to enter is March 6.