Author: pasiuk

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)

Random Movie Monday — Escape in the Fog

Happy Monday! Today’s random movie is Escape in the Fog. Here’s our summary: A nurse suffering from a nervous breakdown starts having nightmares about a man being murdered. When she awakens, the man she dreamt of is standing right in front of her. What follows is a tale of intrigue involving international espionage, a missing package, and … Continue reading “Random Movie Monday — Escape in the Fog”

Happy Monday! Today’s random movie is Escape in the Fog. Here’s our summary:

A nurse suffering from a nervous breakdown starts having nightmares about a man being murdered. When she awakens, the man she dreamt of is standing right in front of her. What follows is a tale of intrigue involving international espionage, a missing package, and a gunfight through the fog of San Francisco.

We don’t have a trailer for this movie, but we do have this classic film noir poster.

In the Executioner’s Shadow

We here at Media Services are very excited to report on the success of In the Executioner’s Shadow, a documentary film by AU professors Maggie Stogner and Richard Stack. This film examines the death penalty in the American judicial system, and will soon be distributed by New Day Films. Currently, the film is being shown … Continue reading “In the Executioner’s Shadow”

We here at Media Services are very excited to report on the success of In the Executioner’s Shadow, a documentary film by AU professors Maggie Stogner and Richard Stack. This film examines the death penalty in the American judicial system, and will soon be distributed by New Day Films. Currently, the film is being shown at national film festivals, including CHANGEFEST  in Chicago and New York.

The film will also be shown locally at the Chesapeake Film Festival, the Utopia Film Festival, and the Maryland Humanities Justice Reform Series. You can find more information about these screenings in our “Events” section.

Random Movie Monday — Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Happy Monday! Today’s random movie is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (HU DVD 1185). It stars Gary Oldman and Tim Roth as the titular characters. Here’s our summary: The fringe characters from Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ take center stage at Elsinore. Yes, our summary is short, but there’s really no way we can capture what this movie’s … Continue reading “Random Movie Monday — Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”

Happy Monday! Today’s random movie is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (HU DVD 1185). It stars Gary Oldman and Tim Roth as the titular characters.

Here’s our summary:

The fringe characters from Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ take center stage at Elsinore.

Yes, our summary is short, but there’s really no way we can capture what this movie’s about in a few succinct sentences. Written and directed by Tom Stoppard (my favorite playwright), and based on his play of the same name, the movie is absurd, funny, and occasionally deadly serious.

Hello There!

Hello, fellow film buffs! Allow me to introduce myself—my name is India, and I am… the new Tara. Tara bid Media Services adieu last month, and now I’m stepping into her role as the administrator and primary poster on this blog of ours. I’ll still be doing Random Movies on Mondays, commemorating my favorite film … Continue reading “Hello There!”

Hello, fellow film buffs! Allow me to introduce myself—my name is India, and I am… the new Tara. Tara bid Media Services adieu last month, and now I’m stepping into her role as the administrator and primary poster on this blog of ours. I’ll still be doing Random Movies on Mondays, commemorating my favorite film icons’ birthdays, and posting everything you ever wanted (or didn’t want to) know about the AU Media Collection.

In lieu of a stilted icebreaker in paragraph form, I’m going to list my top five things you can find in the AU Media Collection. In no particular order:

Jane Eyre – DVD 11799

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back – DVD 1644

Band of Brothers – DVD 14080

Ever After: A Cinderella Story – DVD 190

Howl’s Moving Castle – DVD 2979