Friday, June 26, 2009

UP

I loved the (Disney) Pixar computer animation and thoroughly enjoyed this simple but upbeat story of UP. Adults will appreciate the heroes and villains and the kids will love the adventure. Having said that, I thought the 3D was superfluous. Take the family to the theatre if you enjoy wearing those over sized glasses, or wait and rent it for a family night at home.
Check it out...for more information about balloons try "The Aeronauts" by Donald Dale Jackson (629.13 JAC) for adults or "Ships of the Air" by Lynn Curlee (J629.133 CUR) for the kids. There are several great books about Disney in the biography sections for everyone. You can also find several DVD and VHS Pixar movies in the Children's section.
Poster courtesy of MSN Movies

Monday, June 15, 2009

Battle of the Smithsonian

I did enjoy the Battle of the Smithsonian, the second chapter of Night at the Museum. Ben Stiller reprises his role as Larry Daley, museum night watchman. Amy Adams is a very spirited Amelia Earhart, with enough spunk for everyone. Hank Azaria is less enthusiastic as Kah Mun Rah, the "bad guy" in this episode. The kid's loved the slap-stick "slap-a-thon" Stiller has with a couple of monkeys. This movie is definitely worth the price to see great special effects. Just be sure to take some kids for the full effect.
Check it out...
If you missed the first NATM you could borrow it from the Nesmith Library
DVD NIG Night at the Museum
For more information about the awsome Smithsonian Museum look for these items:
069 SMI "Official guide to the Smithsonian".
J DVD THI This is America, Charlie Brown
Or if you prefer a little mystery:
J MYS ROY "The skeleton in the Smithsonian". Roy, Ron

Poster courtesy of MSN Movies

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation keeps true to the story line and the fast paced action we've come to expect in the Terminator stories. I enjoyed Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's cameo as one of the terminator machines. Low key, but memorable. Christian Bale is always great, and very believable as the adult John Conners. John receives some assistance from an unexpected source, Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) who turns out to be a surprise to himself as much as to John. If you are a fan of this series you won't be disappointed. It is hard to believe that we've waited six years for this episode, and harder yet to remember that it's been 25 years since we started praying that John Connor survives to save the world for humans. See this in the theatre if you like the big screen action, otherwise, wait for the dvd.

Check it out...The Nesmith Library has all three of the Terminator movies. To learn more about robots the library also has:
629.8 ASI Robots, machines in man's image. Asimov, Isaac.
629.8 COO Robot building for beginners. Cook, David.
629.8 LUN Build your own robot!. Lunt, Karl.
629.8 MCC The robot builder's bonanza. McComb, Gordon.
629.8 MEN Robo sapiens : evolution of a new species. Menzel, Peter.
629.892 GUT Almost human : making robots think. Gutkind, Lee.
629.892 THR Robotics : intelligent machines for the new century. Thro, Ellen.


Poster courtesy of MSN Movies