Month: October 2018

Happy Halloween!

In honor of this spookiest of holidays, we’ve created a staff picks list of our favorite Halloween movies and tv shows. While some of these might not be explicitly related to Halloween, they all give off a generally creepy vibe– perfect for everyone’s favorite holiday. Corpse Bride (DVD 13291) I watch Corpse Bride every Halloween … Continue reading “Happy Halloween!”

In honor of this spookiest of holidays, we’ve created a staff picks list of our favorite Halloween movies and tv shows. While some of these might not be explicitly related to Halloween, they all give off a generally creepy vibe– perfect for everyone’s favorite holiday.

Corpse Bride (DVD 13291)

I watch Corpse Bride every Halloween because it combines three of the spookiest things I know—the undead, murder, and emotionally repressed Victorians.  – India

City of Lost Children (DVD 5637)

This isn’t a Halloween movie per se and it’s not even a horror movie. But it is creep-tastic and shouldn’t be missed. Everything about it puts you on edge – directors Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s obsession with dampness, the odd looking cast of characters, and the whole stealing dreams from children plot. A movie that you enjoy watching but can give you disturbing dreams – I’m not saying I know this from experience – is right for the season. Plus Ron Perlman, so it’s a must. — Sean

Coraline (DVD 7449)

For Halloween I like to watch Coraline (DVD 7449). It gets creepier every year and makes for a good Halloween costume!! — Julia

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (DVD 4711)

I watch this movie at least twice a year, once in the fall and once for Christmas.  It’s been a family tradition since as long as I can remember and I’m a sucker for a good claymation.              — Rebekah

The Shining (DVD 2168)

A Stanley Kubrick take on a Stephen King novel, watch Jack Nicholson’s descent into insanity as he takes up a job as the winter caretaker of an abandoned hotel resort in order to have quiet time to finish his novel. A classic and a must watch—even for those not inclined to horror movies. — Justin

The Descent (3850)

Claustrophobes beware! An all-female cast is trapped in an unexplored cave system with something else lurking in the dark. This underground horror movie perfectly exudes that desperate desire to escape from the depths of the unknown. After watching, you’ll probably want to steer clear of any caves in the near future. — Justin

The Blair Witch Project (DVD 24)

In addition to being a watershed moment for the horror genre, The Blair Witch Project was a watershed moment for 15-year-old me–I was so profoundly terrified by the film it would be three years before I watched a horror movie again. — Jean-Luc

SpongeBob SquarePants Season 1, Episode 13 (DVD 14168)

Cartoons are not the first thing that comes to mind when you think Halloween, but that would be ignoring some of the best content out there! If you want to watch something short and fun, but also a little spooky, Spongebob is the obvious answer. Also the part where Spongebob’s costume came off at the end was terrifying as a kid (and even a little now). — Judy 

Random Movie Monday — The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

Every once and awhile, the random number generator picks something really… random. Case in point, this week’s random movie: The Topp Twins Untouchable Girls (DVD 6050). Here’s our description. Tells the story of the world’s only yodeling country singing and comedy lesbian sibling duo, the Topp Twins (Jools and Lynda Topp), who have inspired a generation with … Continue reading “Random Movie Monday — The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls”

Every once and awhile, the random number generator picks something really… random. Case in point, this week’s random movie: The Topp Twins Untouchable Girls (DVD 6050). Here’s our description.

Tells the story of the world’s only yodeling country singing and comedy lesbian sibling duo, the Topp Twins (Jools and Lynda Topp), who have inspired a generation with their politics and celebration of joy.

My only question is this: How did I go nearly a quarter century without realizing the Topp twins existed? I’m definitely putting this documentary on my “to watch” list.

Free Passes — See the First Four Episodes of Amazon’s “Homecoming”

Attention movie and tv lovers! The Media Services Desk has two free passes available for a screening of the first four episodes of “Homecoming,” a new show from Amazon Prime. The screening is scheduled for 7pm on October 29th. If you’d like to claim these passes, please present your AU ID at the Media Services … Continue reading “Free Passes — See the First Four Episodes of Amazon’s “Homecoming””

Attention movie and tv lovers! The Media Services Desk has two free passes available for a screening of the first four episodes of “Homecoming,” a new show from Amazon Prime. The screening is scheduled for 7pm on October 29th. If you’d like to claim these passes, please present your AU ID at the Media Services Desk.

Random Movie Monday — The Giver

Happy Monday folks! Today’s random movie is DVD 13980: The Giver. Here’s our summary: The story centers on Jonas, young man who lives in a supposedly ideal world of conformity and contentment. Yet as he begins to spend time with the elder, who is the sole keeper of all the community’s memories, Jonas quickly begins to discover the dark and deadly truths of … Continue reading “Random Movie Monday — The Giver”

Happy Monday folks! Today’s random movie is DVD 13980: The Giver. Here’s our summary:

The story centers on Jonas, young man who lives in a supposedly ideal world of conformity and contentment. Yet as he begins to spend time with the elder, who is the sole keeper of all the community’s memories, Jonas quickly begins to discover the dark and deadly truths of his community’s secret past. At extreme odds, Jonas knows that he must escape their world to protect them all; a challenge that no one has ever succeeded at before.

I’ve never seen this movie, but I read the book for class in middle school. As one of the activities in class, we had a secret ballot to assign each of our classmates one of the jobs in the “Utopian” community described in the book. My classmates chose me to be the elder that holds all of the community’s painful memories. I’m still not quite sure what to make of that.

Happy Birthday Jeff Goldblum

Happy Birthday Jeff Goldblum! An actor so fixed in our collective cultural consciousness that this: Became this: Of all the ways to commemorate the original Jurassic Park’s 25th anniversary, this was certainly the most… interesting. But anyway, happy birthday to Jeff Goldblum. Many happy returns, and may you always be memeable. You can check out … Continue reading “Happy Birthday Jeff Goldblum”

Happy Birthday Jeff Goldblum! An actor so fixed in our collective cultural consciousness that this:

Became this:

Of all the ways to commemorate the original Jurassic Park’s 25th anniversary, this was certainly the most… interesting. But anyway, happy birthday to Jeff Goldblum. Many happy returns, and may you always be memeable.

You can check out most of Goldblum’s filmography here at Media Services, including these titles:

  • Jurassic Park (DVD 4901)
  • The Lost World: Jurassic Park (DVD 4902)
  • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (DVD 11582)
  • Independence Day (DVD 3111)
  • The Right Stuff (DVD 5190)
  • The Big Chill (DVD 1933)
  • The Fly (DVD 1505)
  • The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (DVD 5101)

Smithsonian African American Film Festival

One of the great things about living in DC is that we have this incredible city right at our fingertips. Case in point: the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting its first ever African American Film Festival. While you do have to pay to attend a film screening and a … Continue reading “Smithsonian African American Film Festival”

One of the great things about living in DC is that we have this incredible city right at our fingertips. Case in point: the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting its first ever African American Film Festival. While you do have to pay to attend a film screening and a master class, the festival is also hosting a bunch of free events.

You can find more information here. We’ll also be adding the free events to our events calendar.

New Movies!

Looking for something new to watch? Check out these new titles in Media Services: Feature Films: American Animals — DVD 16068 Book Club — DVD 16065 Happy End — BLU 16064 First Reformed — DVD 16062 Testament of Youth — DVD 16053 Gold — DVD 16052 Alanis — DVD 16051 And Then I Go — DVD 16058 … Continue reading “New Movies!”

Looking for something new to watch? Check out these new titles in Media Services:

Feature Films:

  • American Animals — DVD 16068
  • Book Club — DVD 16065
  • Happy End — BLU 16064
  • First Reformed — DVD 16062
  • Testament of Youth — DVD 16053
  • Gold — DVD 16052
  • Alanis — DVD 16051
  • And Then I Go — DVD 16058
  • Coherence — DVD 16059

Documentaries:

  • American Socialist: The Life and Times of Eugene Victor Debs — DVD 16067
  • Finding Joseph I — DVD 16066
  • War on the EPA — DVD 16063
  • GI Jews — DVD 16057
  • The Bombing of Wall Street — DVD 16055
  • Blackout in Puerto Rico — DVD 16060
  • Capitalism — DVD 16061

You can check all of these out from the Media Services Desk… except Testament of Youth. I’m checking that one out for a weekend movie night.

Random Movie Monday — Mushi-Shi: The Complete Collection

It’s a rainy Monday, so here’s a DVD that’s appropriately atmospheric: DVD 12000, Mushi-shi: The Complete Collection. Here’s our summary: Between this world and the next, there is a point where it becomes impossible to distinguish between plant and animal; between life and death. It is a place man was never meant to tread. It … Continue reading “Random Movie Monday — Mushi-Shi: The Complete Collection”

It’s a rainy Monday, so here’s a DVD that’s appropriately atmospheric: DVD 12000, Mushi-shi: The Complete Collection. Here’s our summary:

Between this world and the next, there is a point where it becomes impossible to distinguish between plant and animal; between life and death. It is a place man was never meant to tread. It is where you will find the Mushi. Neither good nor evil, they are life in its purest form. An unseen river reshaping the path of man, through their very presence we are changed.

I saw exactly one eipsode of this anime series almost a decade ago. Not my style, but the animation is beautiful, and it’s a good binge for a rainy day.

Check out the trailer, and then check it out at the Media Services Desk!

Random Movie Monday- Girl With a Pearl Earring

It’s Random Movie Monday again! This week, we’re featuring a movie that was based on a book that was based painting. A famous (and mysterious) 17th century Dutch painting called Girl With a Pearl Earring. Here’s our summary: 17-year-old Griet must work to support her family, so she becomes a maid in the house of Johannes Vermeer, where she attracts … Continue reading “Random Movie Monday- Girl With a Pearl Earring”

It’s Random Movie Monday again! This week, we’re featuring a movie that was based on a book that was based painting. A famous (and mysterious) 17th century Dutch painting called Girl With a Pearl Earring. Here’s our summary:

17-year-old Griet must work to support her family, so she becomes a maid in the house of Johannes Vermeer, where she attracts the master painter’s attention. He is commissioned to paint Griet, and the result is one of the greatest paintings ever created

I use a random number generator to select our random movies, but I was definitely pleased when DVD 10460 came out. I’ve never actually seen Girl With a Pearl Earring (the movie), but Girl With a Pearl Earring (the painting) is my favorite work of art. I’ve seen it in person twice, once in New York, and once in the Netherlands.

This movie stars Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, and a crop of British, Irish, and Australian actors who pop up in everything.  Check out the trailer, and then check it out from Media Services!

Julie Andrews: Practically Perfect in Every Way

I originally planned to post this yesterday, but three blog posts seemed a little much for one day. Yesterday, October 1, 2018, was Dame Julie Andrews’ 83rd birthday.  The Queen of England may only have made her a knight, but Julie will always be the Queen of Genovia, and the ultimate Queen of Shade. Andrews … Continue reading “Julie Andrews: Practically Perfect in Every Way”

I originally planned to post this yesterday, but three blog posts seemed a little much for one day. Yesterday, October 1, 2018, was Dame Julie Andrews’ 83rd birthday.  The Queen of England may only have made her a knight, but Julie will always be the Queen of Genovia, and the ultimate Queen of Shade.

Andrews began her career as a child performer in post-war London, and she gained fame by appearing in Broadway musicals in the late 1950s. In 1956, she originated the role of Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady, and was soon cast in Camelot and Cinderella. However, when Warner Brothers won the movie rights to My Fair Lady, studio executive Jack Warner cast Audrey Hepburn as Eliza, rather than casting Andrews. Warner was banking on Hepburn’s name recognition, and doubted that the relatively unknown Andrews could draw the audiences needed to make the film a success.

Oh how Jack Warner would come to eat his words. Walt Disney, who saw Andrews in Camelot, knew that she was the practically perfect choice to play Mary Poppins. After begging her to take the role, he even paused pre-production on the film in order to accommodate Andrews’ pregnancy. Mary Poppins went on to become a huge box office success, and Andrews earned an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance.

We all know Julie Andrews is the classiest woman alive, but she couldn’t help taking just a bit of revenge against Warner. During her Golden Globes Acceptance speech, she closed with: “And, finally, my thanks to a man who made a wonderful movie and who made all this possible in the first place, Mr. Jack Warner.”  If that short dig isn’t the classiest little bit of revenge, then I don’t know what is.

So happy birthday Julie Andrews! If you want to see (or hear) more of this incredible actress with a voice like silver bells, you can find these movies in the AU Media Collection:

  • Marry Poppins (DVD 7850)
  • The Sound of Music (DVD 5916)
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie (Music Library DVD 253)
  • Alfred Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain (DVD 5199)
  • Victor/Victoria (DVD 6740)
  • Shrek 2 (DVD 13518)