News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

The TV series “Once Upon a Time” is back for its second season in New Zealand. Watching the start of the first episode of Season 2 I had to double-check that I was on the right channel as it didn’t look like the right series at all. Only when the mysterious man got the postcard from StoyBrook did I know that the programme was the right one. What an intriguing mix of fairytale characters we have there: Sleeping Beauty and Mulan! mmmh… Don’t know quite what to make of it. Let’s see how it unfolds, I say!

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode and can successfully avoid looking for spoilers online (like me), we have a selection of books you might enjoy. They feature or are inspired by these two well-loved fairytale characters: Sleeping Beauty and Mulan.

Life seems so much busier these days and trying to watch The Killing (Danish version, of course) in a week is pretty nigh impossible.  And customers have told us much the same. So we’ve listened and made a change.  From Wednesday the 1st of August all our box set DVDs* will be issued for three weeks instead of one, just like our books. So now there are a lot  more opportunities to watch your favourite TV series or in fact any of our other box sets DVDs. And there’s more good news – the price is staying the same at only $8 per box set.  So why not take advantage of this change and take three or four box sets home with you next time you come to the library?

* Please note this change applies only to those DVDs labelled as Box Sets, listed in the catalogue as Box Sets and for which the loan charge is $8.

New film and television books for September. Highlights include: ‘Mad Men’, plus Jim Henson. Have a browse:

Mad men : the illustrated world / written & illustrated by Dyna Moe.
“By turns fun, sophisticated, and celebratory, this eye-popping tie-in to the hit AMC series “Mad Men” is inspired by the artistic styles that defined the 1960s, and explores such topics as the office culture and the cocktail craze. Includes a Joan Holloway paper doll.” (Syndetics summary)

New Zealand film : an illustrated history / edited by Diane Pivac with Frank Stark and Lawrence McDonald.
The age of cinema began in Paris in 1895. Within a year New Zealanders saw their first films and in fewer than five they were making their own. In the years since, New Zealand has produced almost every conceivable type of film, from home movies to arthouse flicks to Oscar-winning wide-screen epics, building a rich and varied screen culture and launching the careers of hundreds of directors, actors and behind-the-scenes professionals. New Zealand Film: An Illustrated History is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of New Zealand film and film making from the very beginning. (Syndetics summary)

It’s not easy being green : and other things to consider / Jim Henson, the Muppets, and friends ; with drawings by Jim Henson ; edited by Cheryl Henson.
“Culled from the Jim Henson Company archives, program transcripts, personal letters, and interviews, along with some of Henson’s never-before-published writings, “It’s Not Easy Being Green” offers a testament on life, friendship, individuality, and creativity from Henson and his characters.” (Syndetics summary)

Kardashian konfidential / by Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian ; exclusive new photography for this book by Nick Saglimbeni.
“Confessions of life as a Kardashian sister–stuffed with family stories, advice, beauty tips, and exclusive gorgeous full-color photos, personal snapshots, and the inside scoop on their life growing up into the gorgeous Dash Dolls. As glamorous, fun and fashionable as the girls themselves, this is the perfect buy-one-for-me-buy-three-for-friends fan’s book.” (Syndetics summary)

Infamous players : a tale of movies, the mob (and sex) / Peter Bart.
Former Paramount v-p and Variety editor-in-chief Bart (Shoot Out) takes readers on a wild ride through the years he spent at the struggling film studio from 1967 to 1975. He came aboard at the behest of Paramount’s new chief of production, Robert “the kid stays in the picture” Evans, leaving behind a promising journalism career and moving to Los Angeles. Paramount had recently been acquired by an eccentric man named Charles Bluhdorn, whose taste in films was questionable and whose temper was legendary. With anecdotes about well-known stars mixed with the ins and outs of trying to keep a film studio afloat, this memoir is perfect for cinephiles yearning for a behind-the-scenes view. (Publisher Weekly)

Many of our staff are avid cinephiles – here are their latest film and TV recommendations…

The Lincoln lawyer.
After a series of forgettable rom-com’s and pseudo-action movies Matthew McConaughey finally finds a decent role in this adaptation of the Michael Connelly novel, playing Mickey Haller, a lawyer who operates his practice out of a chauffeured Lincoln town car. When he lands the case of a rich real estate heir (Ryan Phillippe) accused of brutally assaulting an escort, he thinks he’s finally hit the money jackpot. In previous roles McConaughey’s charisma usually comes across as glib & facile but in the slightly soiled Haller character he finds a perfect fit for his smooth shtick, as he hustles clients, cuts deals, & manipulates opposing counsel. What follows is an old fashioned legal thriller, full of twists and turns as McConaughey begins to realize that his client is not all he seems to be and that he may be the one being manipulated. Full marks go to all the supporting cast (which includes Marisa Tomei as his ex-wife and fellow lawyer, & William H. Macy as his investigator) all of whom invest their characters with a real vitality. (Mark)

John Cassavetes: the collection.
John Cassavetes’ first and all improvised movie, Shadows, was made in the same year (1959) Jean-Luc Godard shot Breathless. Both films were equally fresh, bold and ahead of their time. While Godart became one of the biggest names in the movie history, Cassavetes remained an indie iconoclast. However, despite being largely ignored by Hollywood, Cassavetes was undoubtedly a most influential American filmmaker. In Cassavetes’ movies, characters are so real. They talk and move just as they feel, and sometimes even go out of the screen or get too close to the camera (becoming out of focus) – as if the rectangular frame is nonexistent. Cassavetes directed spontaneously in a cinéma vérité style to capture the real feelings of people, and his movies are made up of a sequence of live moments, not of planned and composed scenes. His influences are now mostly seen outside America, and two outstanding Romanian films, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu and 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days are great examples. He had a little commercial success (‘Gloria’ is the most notable one) in his later career, but the films in this collection, which he made while facing huge financial difficulties, are treasures that enlarged movies’ horizons. (Shinji)

Inside job.
Directed by Charles Ferguson, and narrated by Matt Damon, ‘Inside Job’ is a fascinating breakdown of the chaos surrounding the global financial crisis. Beginning with the collapse of Iceland’s banks, Ferguson & Damon trace the history of vigorously pursued financial deregulation, the rise of derivatives trading, and the sub-prime mortgage fiasco, all of which led ultimately to the collapse of several major US financial institutions in 2008, and an unparalleled economic crisis. A lot of complicated financial dealing is explained clearly, and the film has a definite bipartisan feel, as both the Republican & Democratic parties are taken to task for contributing to the deregulation of Wall Street. The film also looks at the impacts on America and the unrealized flow-on effects the crisis would have on the rest of the world, apportions blame to several major Wall Street firms who made huge amounts of money while fuelling the crisis, and examines the overlooked relationship between big business & financial economists. Highly recommended viewing. (Mark)

The almighty Johnsons.
Life can be tough when your mother is a tree! This is the life of the Johnson Brothers, part Kiwi blokes, part Norse Gods. They have some supernatural powers, but to regain the rest they start a quest to find “The One”. The characters are funny, rude, sad, hopeful, weird and, at times, hopeless. This is a fabulous series and I’m looking forward to series two. (Liz)

Unknown .
Based on the fairly obscure short novel Out of my head by French writer Didier van Cauwelaert, ‘Unknown’ stars current B-Movie go-to guy Liam Neeson. Neeson plays Martin Harris, a botanist in Berlin with his wife (Mad Men’s January Jones) to present a paper at a conference. Realising he has left an important bag at the airport he quickly grabs a cab to retrieve it, only to be involved in a traffic accident that leaves him waking from a coma three days later. Attempting to return to his hotel & his wife he finds that not only does his wife claim not to recognise him, but there is another man with her who states that it is he who is in fact ‘Martin Harris’, her husband….The film’s central premise is nothing really original, reminiscent of a lot of the stories of 1940’s pulp fiction writer Cornell Woolrich not to mention the ‘identity/What is really real’ themes of numerous Philip K. Dick short stories & novels; however that doesn’t necessarily mean that the film isn’t enjoyable. Director, Jaume Collet-Serra, is clearly aiming for a slick Euro-thriller take on the 1950s Hollywood films of Alfred Hitchcock, with Neeson in the Jimmy Stewart ‘everyman role’, and he almost pulls it off. Diane Kruger offers some good support as the Gypsy cab driver who helps Neeson out and there are quite a few deft moments that see it rise above the usual thrillers. Neeson is always excellent, but if you’re expecting another variation on Taken the movie is definitely more suspense than action. Overall, better than expected. (Mark)

Honey .
This is a magical little gem. Set in a beautiful mountain forest in Turkey, it is a story about a young boy, Yusuf, focusing on the relationship with his beloved beekeeper father. Surrounded by magnificent nature, the movie unfolds Yusuf’s rural life quietly and intimately. There are enough dramas in the story, but the film gives the impression that nothing much will happen, because it is depicted in a very subtle way without any frills (and no music as well). Every scene is shot meticulously and with great delicacy. It reminds me of the beautiful European movies I saw in the ’80s such as ‘The Tree of Wooden Clogs’ or ‘Hohenfeuer’. The budding director Semih Kaplanoglu has only 5 movies under his belt so far but has already collected more than 40 awards, and this exquisite movie won the Golden Bear (Best Film) of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2010. It was well-deserved. (Shinji)

Bored to death. The complete first season.
Jason Schwartzman plays a very nebbish New York magazine writer/novelist who is stuck on his 2nd novel. Depressed after his girlfriend (Olivia Thirlby) leaves him – because he spends too much time smoking pot & drinking wine – he comes across an old copy of Raymond Chandler’s Farewell My Lovely. After immersing himself in the book he decides to place an add on Craigslist advertising himself as an unlicensed Private Investigator, as a way of getting over his doldrums. Soon he’s taking on cases that range from unfaithful boyfriends, to blackmail & missing skateboards, aided by his best friend Ray (Zach Galifianakis) – a cartoonist henpecked by his demanding girlfriend – and his boss George (Ted Danson) – the marijuana obsessed editor of an ‘Esquire’ like magazine. It’s one of those ‘love it or hate it’ shows, as the kind of humour that follows is probably not to everyone’s taste, a kind of sly take on male self-absorption filtered through Raymond Chandler pastiches, but there are some very funny moments and Ted Danson is hilarious… (Mark)

The limits of control.
Jim Jarmusch has a great sense of music. His choices of music for his movies are always intriguing – Tom Waits for Down by Law, Neil Young for ‘Dead Man’, and Broken Flowers made the Ethiopian jazz legend Mulatu Astatke an unexpected star – and for this film, he used Japanese noise-oriented rock band Boris and Sunn 0))). With their dark, ominous sound, a mystery hit-man (Isaach de Bankolé) embarks on a mysterious mission. His mission is never explained to the viewer, only that he needs to use his imagination to accomplish it. He travels in Spain, from Madrid to Seville to Almeria, and meets odd messengers, played by unique actors including Tilda Swinton and John Hurt, one after another. This repetition is musical, I thought. Every character plays variations of the motif, like Ravel’s ‘Bolero’. A beautiful cinema photography by Christopher Doyle is worthy of special mention. Doyle often works with Wong Kar-wai (another filmmaker who has great sense of music) and contributed marvellously for In the Mood for Love and 2046. In the end, the mission is accomplished abruptly (because he used his imagination) and it may puzzle you, but viewers must use their imagination too. For me this is a movie of variations, and Jarmusch shows that artistic expression can be limitless. It’s very Jim Jarmusch after all. (Shinji)

Strike back.
Based on the novel by Chris Ryan, Strike Back begins on the eve of the US invasion of Iraq with an SAS Hostage Rescue unit led by Sergeant John Porter (Richard Armitage from Spooks) and Hugh Collinson (Andrew Lincoln from ‘The Walking Dead’) sent to rescue a kidnapped British businessman. During the mission Porter disarms (instead of kills) an Iranian boy wearing a suicide bomb vest, but as the mission ends two of his team are shot and killed, and one is left in a coma. The boy is believed to be the killer, and in the ensuing investigation Porter is blamed and receives a dishonorable discharge. Seven years later, Porter – now estranged from his family – is working as a Security Guard, when the kidnapping of a British journalist gives him an unexpected chance to return to Iraq and discover what really happened 7 years ago. The Six episodes are edited into 3 separate ‘missions’, the Iraq story followed by a mission in Zimbabwe, to break an ex-soldier out of prison after he attempts to assassinate President Mugabe; & the last in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where a computer hacker is responsible for the deaths of American troops by altering missile guidance control systems. High production values (filmed in South Africa) and solid acting from the leads Armitage and Collinson compensate for the sometimes wooden dialogue. More action-focused, with less character development than similar shows such as 24 or Spooks, it nonetheless fills the gap for action fans until the nest season of ‘Spooks’ airs. (Mark)

Many of our staff are avid cinephiles – here are their latest film and TV recommendations…

The American
George Clooney gives a nuanced performance as the titular character in this adaptation by Anton Corbijn of the novel ‘A very private gentleman’ by Martin Booth. He plays a hit-man who hides out in an Italian town after an attempt on his life, spending his time customizing a gun for another colleague. His boss advises him to lay low, but he gradually begins to fall for a local prostitute he begins seeing. Slow moving with great visuals, it’s definitely not an ‘action’ film, as the movie has a distinctly European feel – almost at times verging on a parody. The motivations of other characters – such as who & why someone is trying to kill Clooney’s character – are only obliquely hinted at, and the whole film seems more of a mood piece/character study. However, it still manages to sustain a palpable degree of tension until it unravels in the third act – which becomes a bit predictable, as Corbijn goes for the ‘anti-Hollywood’ ending, which in itself has become a bit of a cliché. Still, it’s enjoyable enough if you’re after something a bit different. (Mark)

Bhowani junction
It is a wonder that the classic films of the forties and fifties have not been adopted as a tool for ‘Social Improvement’ by the political right. After watching this movie you will never again watch a DVD in your pyjamas – lounging or otherwise – and will never let war or revolution see you anything less than immaculately groomed and clad in a crisp white shirt and classic skirt or trousers. Women will not let the cat see them without full make-up, nor men without a close shave and heavily Brycreemed hair. The strict dress and social codes are the complete antithesis of grunge and “anything goes” attitudes of today. It is all rather refreshing. Although this film is very dated it does deal with an interesting time in history – that of imminent Indian Independence – and interesting social issues such as the plight of the Anglo-Indians and the difficulty of cross-cultural relationships. Ava Gardner is captivating as Victoria Jones, a young woman searching for identity in the new India and Stewart Granger equally so as Captain Rodney Savage searching for his. There is plenty of action, light and colour and plenty of glorious India. All in all a good watch and warmly recommended. (Sue)

The killer inside me.
Flawed but interesting stab at adapting crime writer Jim Thompson’s seminal novel ‘The Killer Inside Me’ by Michael Winterbottom. Set in small town American South circa the 1950’s, Casey Affleck takes the lead role of Lou Ford, a seemingly polite well adjusted Deputy Sheriff engaged to a local schoolteacher (Kate Hudson). However, a meeting with a prostitute (Jessica Alba) that he is supposed to run out of town provides a catalyst for his re-emerging pathology, and he gradually begins to orchestrate a murderous scheme to gain revenge on a local businessman that he blames for the death of his step-brother. The novel, like a lot of Thompson’s work, is a first person narrative in which the reader gradually becomes aware that the likeable narrator is not all he/she appears to be – and is often completely unhinged – but by then the character has engendered enough sympathy or empathy that you keep reading, no matter how weird & disturbing things get. Thompson’s novels were controversial for their time, and violent, but being published in the 1950’s the majority of the violence and general depravity was implied. Winterbottom, however, decides to push the violence to the forefront of the story, to the extent that it feels exploitative, and specifically during the lengthy drawn out beating of Alba’s character, truly repellent. None of which adds to the viewer’s engagement with the lead character. Affleck also seems too physically slight for the role, his accent off, lacking any of the ‘good old boy’ southern charm of the book’s narrator. But that seems like what Winterbottom was after, a bunch of choices that defy whatever conventional wisdom exists in the making of a ‘post-modern’ neo-noir such as this The overall result is that while some of it works, some of it doesn’t, and it tends to end up in the ‘fascinating but repellent’ category of films. Worth watching if you’re a Thompson fan, or just intrigued, but be warned, the sadomasochistic violence is pretty extreme in parts. (Mark)

Somewhere.
A celebrity director makes a movie about a celebrity’s life. This probably makes your expectation high but Sophia Coppola is not a usual director. A bit like ‘Lost in Translation’ it’s a story about a big movie star, who appears to have everything but in fact has nothing, and restores himself after spending a chunk of time with his daughter for the first time. However, in this movie, there is no drama or structure which mainstream movies usually offer. It is subtle and slow-going, and driven by the mood rather than the storyline. This has created some criticism such as ‘nothing happens’, but being stereotypical is the last thing you can expect from Sophia Coppola. She is obviously visual focused and true to her cinematic instinct. She knows what she wants, and that’s why she employed the cinematographer Harris Savides who is known for his works on Gus Van Sant’s ‘Elephant’ and ‘Last Days’. With his camera, she just lets the movie go as if it’s floating clouds in the sky. So, this is a unique, let-it-be movie. Chill out and enjoy. (Shinji)

Primer.
‘Primer’ caused a stir when it first came out, winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Made for only $7000, the film focus on 2 young entrepreneurial inventors who work out of a garage. When an experiment goes awry they discover that its side effect has given them the ability to travel back in time several hours, and begin to experiment with their new found technology, initially using it to make a fortune on the stock market. What follows is literally impossible to explain, let alone understand, as ‘Primer’ makes David Lynch seem linear by comparison. But that’s part of its low budget charm. As the inventors discover how to extend the length of time they can travel back to, various future/alternate ‘versions’ of themselves begin doing things that seem to have no explanation…or do they. It’s all completely mind-bending, but fascinating to watch unfold. Recommended if you’re a fan of films like ‘Lost Highway’, ‘Donnie Darko’, ‘Memento’, or ‘Moon’. (Mark)

Matariki.
“Contains violence, drug use and offensive language” …not an appealing intro I thought into a movie titled ‘Matariki’ that is, as I know it to be. An abandoned car, a brutally beaten Rugby League star, a dysfunctional couple having a baby, a loner and his beloved dog, and two runaway teenagers. A chain of events and lives although apart are stories moving together to reach a common goal or means to an end. Saying goodbye and starting again. ‘Matariki is when the Maori New Year starts. Planting begins for the new season, a new beginning. It’s a very special time of the year. The film brings together these characters, all looking for a way forward. With new beginnings there has to be goodbyes. We have the Pakeha wife of the beaten Rugby League star who fears his Maori family, Maori custom and protocol will over rule her wishes as his wife. How can there be a compromise and a way forward? The runaways, what are they looking for, where are they going to? And the dysfunctional couple after having their baby, what future does ‘Matariki’ (as she is beautifully named) have? ‘The violence in the film I found very hard to watch, and then there were the heart felt scenes, the most affecting ’saying goodbye to a brother, a son, a nephew, a cousin, a friend, a husband’. Getting past the violence, drug use and offensive language, I thought this was another well made, on a shoe string budget ‘only in New Zealand’ movie. Lastly a few words from the co-writer/director Michael Bennett which pretty much sums up the substance of the film “You can chose to look down at the concrete under your feet, or you can chose to look up at the stars!” (Ethel)

Tangled.
Rapunzel with attitude! This will appeal to children and adults alike. The animation is stunning. All the characters have personality to burn and Maximus the horse alone would be worth watching. (Liz)

Parks and recreation. Season one.
Quirky comedy from the creators of ‘The Office’ (the US version). Saturday Night Live comedienne Amy Poehler (‘Baby Mama’) stars as a Leslie Knope, a naïve small town Government employee determined to turn a giant ‘pit’ into a new public park. The ‘mockumentary’ style makes it seem a bit derivative at first, but over the course of the season it develops its own style & characters and gets better as it goes along. The supporting characters are all pretty funny, especially Aziz Ansari, as her slack colleague, and Nick Offerman as her deadpan boss, who doesn’t believe in ‘government’ of any kind. (Mark)

Let me in.
Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) take the two leading roles in this remake of the Swedish film ‘Let the right one in’. Helmed by Matt Reeves (‘Cloverfield’) ‘Let Me In’ relocates the action to middle-America in the 80’s, essentially structuring the story of the lonely & bullied Owen (who thinks he has found a friend in his mysterious new neighbour Abby, only to discover she is a vampire frozen in time as a 12 year old girl) essentially same way as the original Swedish movie. Remakes tend to suck as a rule, and it’s hard not to compare the two, but taken on its own merit it’s a pretty good movie – probably more enjoyable if you haven’t seen the original. It’s the small touches that differentiate it from the Swedish film: the unnecessary use of CGI when Abby transforms into a vampire, the less naturalistic leads, the heavier score, more of a focus on the ‘police procedural’ aspect). So while some things don’t work as well, others do work (such as the way the camera never quite focuses on Owen’s mother) and the US version has some nice touches. All in all it lacks the subtlety of the Swedish movie, but that was probably to be expected, and at the end of the day it retains the emotional heart of the original: a belief that friendship can sometime be more important than anything else. (Mark).

The insatiable moon.
This is the film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Mike Riddell about real people and events. Arthur, (Rawiri Paratene) of Whale rider fame, who believes he is the second son of God, and his mentally challenged loyal friends live in a boarding house in posh Ponsonby, managed by Bob (Greg Johnson), who although foul-mouthed and gruff, genuinely loves and cares for them. With threats to close the boarding house down Arthur puts his heavenly credentials into action, only to have his own personal decline into madness realized, and is soon admitted into the psychiatric ward. The film is light-hearted and funny, another New Zealand film made on a shoestring budget with a brilliant cast of NZ talent, kudos to the men who play the ‘undesirable, mentally challenged’ boarders, and Ian Mune as the street bum alcoholic Norm. It’s about people with mental health problems, the discrimination they often face, and what is acceptable to/in society. With strong messages told with great compassion, humanity and humour, there are powerful and thought provoking scenes and performances throughout the movie. A line from the film I found endearing: Norm is asked “What does he think of Arthur?” …his reply “He’s the second Son of God, …or as mad as a chook!” The soundtrack’s heavenly as well. (Ethel)

The Roman Empire; ghosts, werewolves and vampires; the comic adventures of playwrights; men with nothing to lose; Joan Jett and Cherie Currie; and materialism, marriage and teenage daughters. We’ve chosen our DVD highlights for March – have a browse!

Centurion
“AD 117: The Roman Empire stretches from Egypt to Spain, and East as far as the Black Sea. But in northern Britain, the relentless onslaught of conquest has ground to a halt in face of the guerrilla tactics of an elusive enemy: the savage and terrifying Picts led by revenge-hungry Pict Warrior Etain. When the Roman legion is ambushed, the seven surviving Romans pledge to rescue their leader and return to Rome to re-group.” (Library Catalogue)

The expendables
“Barney Ross is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion he is the leader, the sage and the strategist to a tight knit band of men who live on the fringe – former SAS operative and savant with anything that has a blade, Lee Christmas; master at close quarter combat, Yin Yang; long barrel weapons specialist, Hale Caesar; skilled demolitions expert, Toll Road; and combat veteran, sniper expert and loose cannon, Gunnar Jensen. When the mysterious Mr. Church offers Barney a job no none else would take, The Expendables embark on what appears to be a routine mission: overthrow a murderous dictator of a small island nation and end the years of death and destruction inflicted on its people. However, they have an even more dangerous enemy awaiting them”–Container.

Grey Gardens
“Thirty-five years after the Maysles brothers’ famed documentary of the same name, Grey Gardens offers a wry, behind-the-scenes look at “Big Edie” and “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale, two charming eccentrics who were relatives of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and inhabitants of a decaying mansion in the Hamptons. Told over a span of four decades, the film focuses on their glamorous and well-heeled lives long before the making of the documentary and on the circumstances behind their riches-to-rags story”–Container.

The Runaways
“With the success of their all-girl teenage rock band The Runaways, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie’s friendship begins to unwind after Currie decides to leave the group.” (Library Catalogue)

Please give
“Kate has a lot on her mind. There’s the ethics problem of buying furniture at estate sales and marking it up at her Manhattan store. There’s the materialism problem of not wanting her teenage daughter to want the expensive things that she wants. There’s the marriage problem of sharing a partnership in parenting, business, and life with husband Alex but sensing doubt nibbling at the foundations. And worst of all are the neighbors, cranky, old Andra and the two granddaughters who look after her.” (Library Catalogue)

Lebanon
“June, 1982 – The First Lebanon War. A lone tank and a paratroopers platoon are dispatched to search a hostile town – a simple mission that turns into a nightmare. The four members of a tank crew find themselves in a violent situation that they cannot contain. Motivated by fear and the basic instinct of survival, they desperately try not to lose themselves in the chaos of war.” (Library Catalogue)

Mother and child
“Three women’s lives share a common core. They have all been profoundly affected by adoption. At age fourteen, Karen placed a baby for adoption, and has been haunted ever since by the daughter she never knew. Elizabeth grew up as an adopted child. Even though she is a bright and ambitious lawyer, she is a flinty loner in her personal life. Lucy and her husband are just embarking on the adoption odyssey, hoping for the opportunity to become parents.” (Library Catalogue)

Paranormal activity
“Katie and Micah are a young middle class couple who are engaged to be married. After moving into a suburban ’starter’ house in San Diego, California, they begin hearing noises while trying to sleep. Not knowing if the presence is demonic or not, they attempt communicating through a Ouija board, angering the spirit further. Now they may never sleep again, or they may never wake up!” (Library Catalogue)

Being human. Series 1
“Follows three house mates as they do their best to live their lives as normally as possible despite their strange and dark secrets. Lovable George battles with his double identity as a mild mannered hospital porter who for one night of the month turns into a flesh hungry werewolf, Mitchell is a good looking and confident vampire trying to go cold turkey from his blood sucking urges and recently deceased Annie is a chatty yet underconfident ghost whose ex-fiance is the landlord of the house the three of them share. All this on top of the usual issues faced by young people surrounding love, work and mates and the only thing they have to rely on in their heightened world is each other.” (Library Catalogue)

Me and Orson Welles
“After a chance encounter, theatre-loving teen Richard Samuels gets the opportunity of a lifetime when famous director Orson Welles gives him a small role in his 1937 production of “Julius Caesar.” Unexpectedly thrust into the heady world of the stage, Richard finds himself surrounded by ambition, clashing egos and sheer brillance.” (Library Catalogue)

The extra man
“Aspiring playwright Louis Ives moves to New York, taking an environmental job with a beautiful, infatuating co-worker. Louis rents a room from an eccentric former playwright who moonlights as an ‘extra man,’ a social escort for the wealthy widows of Manhattan high society. The two men develop a volatile mentorship, which leads to a series of comic adventures.” (Library Catalogue)

Wall Street : money never sleeps
“Following a lengthy prison term, Gordon Gekko finds himself on the outside looking in at a world he once commanded. Hoping to repair his relationship with his daughter, Winnie, Gekko forges an alliance with her fiancé, Jake. But Winnie and Jake learn the hard way that Gekko is still a master manipulator who will stop at nothing to reclaim his rightful place at the top of Wall Street.” (Library Catalogue)

Some of your favourite TV shows of the past 5 decades are available on DVD from the library. Whether you prefer British comedies, American spy shows, or classic New Zealand shows, you can find them at Wellington City Libraries.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve added a number of new titles spanning the past 40 years of television. Some would be considered classics of their era, others you wish could be forgotten.

Mission: Impossible is the classic spy show from the 60s which paved the way for iconic television sayings to enter the English language. “This MP3 player will self-destruct in 60 seconds” doesn’t quite have the same menace as “This tape will self-destruct in 60 seconds”. As hard as I try to forget Lenny and Squiggy, they continue to rear their greasy hairdos when least expected. For those who don’t know these characters, have a look at Laverne & Shirley. A “Happy Days” spin-off from the 70s that was set in the 50s and featured 2 women room mates who worked in a bottle-capping factory. Surprisingly the show ran for 8 seasons.

Moving from the 70s to the 80s, we have 21 Jump Street. A show that gave us Johnny Depp, and the premise “American teenagers look like 30 year olds”. The 90s are a decade we’ll avoid for the moment. Not that there weren’t any good shows, just they haven’t released them on DVD yet.

From the 00s (or noughties) we have the latest Emmy darling from the US sitcom scene. 30 Rock is a comedy show about the making of a comedy show. Devised by Tina Fey from “Saturday Night Live” fame, the show centres around Liz Lemon. “Liz Lemon, head writer of the sketch comedy show ‘TGS with Tracy Jordan’, must deal with an arrogant new boss and a crazy new star, all while trying to run a successful TV show without losing her mind. “–IMDb.

These are just a few of the TV shows available. What are some of your favourite/forgettable shows of the past 5 decades?

Life on Mars. Series two
“Life On Mars shot out of nowhere at the beginning of 2006 to become a vital, gripping drama, and this second series more than maintains the sky high standards that the first so memorably set. What makes it even more surprising is that all the ingredients were there for it to go so tragically wrong. The central premise, that for unknown reasons modern day police detective Sam Tyler wakes up in the 1970s, is fraught with potential potholes, yet the creators of Life On Mars twist it very much in their favour, delivering a skilful, taut comparison between policing then and policing now. It’s this clash of approach that provides many of Life On Mars’ sparks, but nonetheless, it has much more than that going for it. It boasts, for instance, a terrific level of attention to detail, and weaves in quality narrative too, with Tyler frequently caught between unravelling his predicament, the crimes before him, and his 1970s’ colleagues with their 1970s’ tactics.” — Amazon

Life on Mars is just one of our DVD recent picks this month. Also featured, you’ll find: The Nanny Diaries with Scarlet Johansson; the story of Albert Pierrepoint – Britain’s most notorious hangman (Pierrepoint); Robert Redford’s Lions and Lambs (also starring Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep); Quentin Tarantino’s revival of Grindhouse – Death Proof – featuring New Zealander Zoe Bell; I am Legend (post-apocalyptic zombie flick loosely based on Richard Matheson’s classic science-fiction novel about a lone human survivor); and, the return of Jack Bauer in Season Six of 24. Plus, a few more  brand new DVD releases, including Season One of compelling new crime series Criminal Minds, and a few more tasty television morsels.

Our new DVDs for June are mainly television programmes – great shows like ‘Grey’s anatomy’, ‘24′ (4th season), ‘Aeon flux’ (the animated series, not sucky movie), ‘Gilmore girls’ (1st season), and ‘Arrested development’ (1st season). Also available – Jodie Foster’s blockbuster ‘Flightplan’ and Wong Kar Wai’s moody ‘2046′.

We didn’t buy many new movie & TV books this month, but what we did get is great – Lost, David Lynch, and Hollywood’s iconic flops.