Movies

Dark Justice

/ Susan O. / Leave a comment

       4810718-7340774645-the-b_Arl6x9k I don’t read comic books; the drawings v. words are too visually distracting for me. The ones I hold tight in my file cabinet you’ve probably never heard of. But I love Batman. Adam West Batman. Super Friends Batman. Keaton, Clooney, Kilmer, Bale, I like them all. And yes, I had no problem with Affleck’s performance. Nine Batman films have raked in a combined profit of more than $2.2 Billion – no small change. I like Wonder Woman, and Spiderman, and don’t get me started on how much I love the Avengers.

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But I don’t like Superman. Never did. My favorite would be Super Friends Superman, and after that it’s Chris Reeve or nothing. Perhaps he’s too squeaky-clean – far more than Captain America, and too powerful. Krypton is one of the rarest gases, one part per million of our atmosphere. You would have to sift an awful lot of air to gain enough Krypton to affect him. Barring Lex Luthor, Superman is more or less invincible, and no one likes a prissy Lawful Good (this is the same problem fought in the X-Men series, Watchmen, and Captain America: Civil War). What good is a hero who has no faults and can’t be harmed?

51omO8G3K-L._AC_US160_Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice – due on DVD July 16 – didn’t grab me from the start, but I went to see it because – well, Batman. If you haven’t seen the last reboot of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel, be prepared for confusion, for BvS takes up right where Man of Steel left off. Batman is mighty ticked at Superman for all the damage he wrought in lives and property, and takes it upon himself to curtail Superman in a surge of animosity that seems to come out of nowhere. Batman’s good for a simmering revenge, not a sudden “You need to be taken down, I don’t like you” petty vindictiveness. Batman, a mere mortal with cool toys, tries to take down a superbeing who cannot be stopped. Needless to say, it does not go well.

Batman v. Superman seems lost in its own purpose. It’s a fair Batman film, a wooden and flat Superman film (Spider-Man has more lines in Civil War than Superman did in BvS), and if Batman-V-Superman-Zack-Snyder-Trinitythere’s any shining hero here, it’s Wonder Woman. If anything, it’s merely a clunky prequel to 2017’s Wonder Woman movie. In fact, you probably could have cut the whole rivalry down to 30 minutes, then began the Wonder Woman movie, and had a much better film.

My biggest gripe with the film, writing and directing aside, is that Batman breaks character. Guns are not Batman’s forte. Batman does not carry them, Batman does not shoot them. Batman is about outsmarting the villain and bringing them TO justice, not carrying it out himself. Batman is the thinking man’s hero. Batman never even kills the Joker. But here’s  Batman, shooting and killing like Rambo. That was my breaking point. And it is quite established that Batman is well-versed in martial arts; Batman’s moves in BvS are poor at best; slow and unconvincing.

batman-vs-superman-dawn-of-justice-movieIf you hunt for it, there are enough good bits to make the film worthwhile; all the Wonder Woman scenes among them. It is certainly nowhere near the abysmal level of 1992’s Batman Returns, with Danny DeVito as a deformed demented Penguin – surely the lowpoint of his career. Forbes magazine nails the issues with the film quite nicely here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2016/05/09/captain-america-civil-war-shows-exactly-why-batman-v-superman-failed/#6dda5e6446bb.

If you really love the superhero genre, then by all means watch it. There are far worse superhero films out there – Green Lantern and Eric Bana/ Incredible Hulk (2003) come fast to mind. But if you really want to see superheroes eating their own and winning at it, wait for Captain America: Civil War.

These are Seriously Funny

/ Kaitlin / Leave a comment

Have you ever felt the frustration of watching a movie that’s labeled as a comedy, only to find that it’s really a drama with a few funny moments? Where are the real comedies? The ones that make you laugh from beginning to end? They’re right here at the library:

 Blazing Saddles Blazing Saddles

The ultimate parody of Western movies. Bart is the sheriff of a town that is being targeted by every wild west villain you can think of and by some not-so-wild west villains. He knows how to outsmart them, though!

 

 

 What’s Up, Doc? WhatsUpDoc

This is the story of four red traveling cases, each containing four very different contents, and each owned by four different people. So of course they’re going to get mixed up.

 

 

ninetofive 9 to 5

Three female office workers take on their lying, sexist, egotistical, hypocritical boss. Tying him to his chair is the least of it!

 

 

weekendatbernies Weekend at Bernie’s

What do two young men do when they show up at their boss’ house and find him dead? Why, they pretend that he’s still alive, of course!

 

 

bringingupbaby Bringing Up Baby

Two people with very different personalities meet. One is trying to get married. The other is trying to prevent this from happening. They’re also watching a leopard cub named Baby. What could go wrong?

 

 

holygrail Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The search for the holy grail involves witch hunts, the perils of an all-female castle, and knowledge of swallows. And let’s not forget the importance of shrubbery!

 

 

somelikeithot Some Like It Hot

Two men who are on the run from a criminal gang disguise themselves as women and join an all-female ensemble.

 

 

 

operationpetticoat Operation Petticoat

Men, women, children, birthing mothers, and a goat all manage to land themselves inside of a pink submarine that seems to be held together with duct tape.

 

 

clue Clue

The characters from the classic board game are trying to figure out which one of them keeps murdering every single person that walks in the front door. Let’s just say, most of them are not detectives.

 

 

What other laugh out loud movies would you recommend?

What’s Trending at Cheshire Public Library

/ Linda / Leave a comment

movies dvd

Winter is over and Spring has sprung.  During the long winter months, lots of people spent their time watching movies.   So what movies were the most popular this Winter?  Here are the top 15 movies that were checked out during January, February and March.  See something you like?  Check it out!

the age of adalineThe Age of Adaline – A young woman, born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man who complicates the eternal life she has settled into.

 

jurassic worldJurassic World – A new theme park is built on the original site of Jurassic Park. Everything is going well until the park’s newest attraction–a genetically modified giant stealth killing machine–escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.

 

missionMission Impossible: Rogue Nation – With the IMF disbanded, Ethan and his team join forces with a disavowed British agent, who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as they must face off against a new network of highly skilled special agents.

downton abbeyDownton Abbey – Season 1 – Downton Abbey — a sprawling, lavish Edwardian mansion nestled in the Yorkshire landscape — needs an heir. Dame Maggy Smith stars as Violet, the stubborn Dowager Countess of Grantham & matriarch of Downton. Hugh Bonneville stars as her son, the stoic, unflappable Lord Crawley.

unbrokenUnbroken – After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he’s caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

 

imitationThe Imitation Game – During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians.

 

 

stillStill Alice – A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

 

 

ted 2Ted 2 – Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he’s a person in a court of law.

 

selmaSelma – A chronicle of Martin Luther King’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.  

 

second best exoticThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – As the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has only a single remaining vacancy – posing a rooming predicament for two fresh arrivals – Sonny pursues his expansionist dream of opening a second hotel.  

 

run all nightRun All Night – Mobster and hit man Jimmy Conlon has one night to figure out where his loyalties lie: with his estranged son, Mike, whose life is in danger, or his longtime best friend, mob boss Shawn Maguire, who wants Mike to pay for the death of his own son.

 

paul blartPaul Blart, Mall Cop 2 – After six years of keeping our malls safe, Paul Blart has earned a well-deserved vacation. He heads to Vegas with his teenage daughter before she heads off to college. But safety never takes a holiday and when duty calls, Blart answers.

 

boyhoodBoyhood – The life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.  

 

 

tommorrowlandTomorrowland – Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

 

trainwreckTrain Wreck – Having thought that monogamy was never possible, a commitment-phobic career woman may have to face her fears when she meets a good guy.  

 

 

They’re Not What They Seem…

/ Kaitlin / Leave a comment

Can you figure out what these women have in common?

AlanaAlanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce “I did this because I wanted to become a knight.”

 

 

Jacket.aspxShadowbridge by Gregory Frost “I did this because I needed to protect myself.”

 

 

Jacket.aspxThe Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted “I did this because I wanted an education.”

 

 

jacketA Soldier’s Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss “I did this because I wanted to escape from my previous life and fight for a cause.”

 

 

Jacket.aspxTwelfth Night by William Shakespeare “I did this because I needed a way to live.”

 

 

Jacket.aspxDisney’s Mulan “I did this because I needed to protect my family.”

 

 

Jacket.aspxBloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. “I did this because I wanted to sail around the world.”

 

 

Jacket.aspxSelf-Made Man by Norah Vincent “I did this because I wanted to learn about how men live.”

 

 

Jacket.aspxRowan Hood: Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest by Nancy Springer “I did this because I was searching for my father.”

 

Ouran

Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori “I did this because I was in debt.”

 

 

Did you guess? Women disguised as men. They were disguised so they could fight for themselves or their families, protect themselves when they were all alone in a man’s world, and earn an education, which they would have been denied otherwise. Each and every one of these is absolutely fascinating. Do yourself a favor and work your way through this list!

Do you have any favorite books/movies/plays with this subject that did not make this list?

What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in April

/ cheshirelib / Leave a comment

Spring has sprung and we’re growing a garden of programs for you this month at CPL, including our semi-annual book sale!

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 8.19.30 PMWhere to Hike in Cheshire

Monday Apr 4, 2016,  6:30  –  8:00 PM

Suzanne Simone, the town environmental planner, will introduce hiking opportunities located in Cheshire.  From meadows to Connecticut’s second largest waterfall, Cheshire has over 1,500 acres ready for exploration.  Free hiking maps, property descriptions and directions will be available. Seating for this event is limited.  Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.  This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

8dbc9366c8c26d59fa19d6e12159e6a0How to Grow Ground Covers

Tuesday Apr 5, 2016, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Grassy lawns are the single most popular groundcover, but they are not always the best choice for a location or the easiest to maintain.  Landscape designer Kathy Connolly will offer alternative strategies for covering ground and discuss ‘5 Ways to Cover Ground and Give the Lawn a Rest’. Seating for this event is limited.  Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.  This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

Abby StokesSafely Surf the Internet

Thursday Apr 7, 2016, 6:00  –  8:00 PM

Everyone is fearful of security breaches and identity theft. Best-selling author Abby Stokes, will help you learn how to Safely Surf the Internet and find (Almost) anything online. Copies of her book, Is This Thing On? will be available for purchase.
Please register online or call 203-272-2245 ext. 4.

Jacket.aspxFab Film –  Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Monday Apr 11, 2016, 2:00  –  4:30 PM

Come enjoy some great box office kids’ movies with Fab Films at The Cheshire Public Library! Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rated PG-13 | Runtime 2 hours and 16 minutes. No registration required.

6759LEGO® Junior Maker

Tuesday Apr 12, 2016, 10:00 AM

We will start with a short storytime focused around building. Kids will then have an opportunity to use their best creativity to design buildings, creatures, and more using LEGO® bricks . No registration required.

inside-outNaked Retirement

Tuesday Apr 12, 2016, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Join Michael Argiro, Financial Advisor at 4 T Financial, for this workshop on retirement. Too many people start their first day of retirement with only a financial plan and nothing else. Learn a fun and creative approach to retirement that strips away the numbers and addresses everyday life in retirement. Create a Naked Retirement Plan, build a retirement curious list, and change your retirement life forever by answering three revealing questions. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

yarn_balls_7Adult Knitting Night

Come socialize, learn, and share your techniques with other knitters.  Experience the relaxing and calming effect of knitting. We will meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Adult knitters welcome, no supplies or instruction will be given, please bring your own supplies and talent!  Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.

TAT1Touch a Truck @ Bartlem Park

Thursday Apr 14, 2016, 10:00 AM –  12:00 PM

Have you ever wanted to board one of those huge trucks?  Your chance has arrived! This event is made possible due to the generosity of local companies and Cheshire Town Agencies.  You may see fire trucks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, pay loader, rescue trucks, law enforcement vehicles and more. Come visit the children’s librarians at Bartlem Park (520 S Main St., Cheshire) for Touch a Truck.  We’ll be present with our book cart for kids to touch and have special prizes to give out. Please bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to the Cheshire Food Pantry.

parent workshops Parent Workshop: How Temperament Shapes your Child

Tuesday Apr 19, 2016, 6:30 PM

Learning more about children’s temperaments and how they can best mesh with yours leads to smoother parenting experiences. Participants will work to understand their child’s temperament and their own and learn to work effectively with differences.
This parent workshop is presented by Christine Foster, Director of Community Relations from The Independent Day School, and will meet on the library’s UPPER LEVEL. Register online,  beginning March 28th.

tumblr_o3up6g7sth1rmidh1o1_540Friends of Cheshire Public Library BOOK SALE

Thursday Apr 21, 9 AM – 8 PM

Friday Apr 22, 9 AM – 4:30 PM

Saturday Apr 23, 9 AM – 4:30 PM

Sunday Apr 24 “Bag of Books” sale  12 PM – 3 PM

Endangered Species & the Sixth Extinction

Tuesday Apr 26, 2016, 6:30  –  8:00 PM

Dr. Isaac M. (Morty) Ortega, Wildlife Ecologist and UCONN Associate Professor, will explore the question: “The sixth extinction, are we there yet?”  Dr. Ortega has traveled the world exploring and researching endangered animals.  Join us to learn what is going on with endangered animals around the globe. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.  This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

Screen Shot 2016-03-10 at 8.00.57 PMButterflies and Their Gardens

Wednesday Apr 27, 2016,  6:30  –  8:00 PM

Naturalist John Himmelman answers many of the questions asked about the lives, and preferences, of this fascinating group of insects. Some topics covered are: butterfly families and species, life cycles, finding (and taming) butterflies, and creating butterfly habitats. There will also be a fun section on moths, the under-appreciated cousins of the butterflies. Please register online or call 203-272-2245, ext. 4.  This program is co-sponsored by the Cheshire Planning Department and Cheshire Public Library.

Jacket.aspxAuthor Talk: Kara Sundlun ~ Finding Dad: From “Love Child” to Daughter

Emmy-award winning journalist,  news anchor, and co-host of Better Connecticut, Kara Sundlun, will discuss her book Finding Dad: From “Love Child” to Daughter. Sundlun’s book chronicles her life growing up without a father present, the struggle to force her biological father, World War II hero and two-term Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun, to accept her as his daughter, and the development of the bond the two would eventually share. Copies of her book will be available after the talk for purchase and signing. Please register online or call 203-272-2245 ext. 4