Tuesday's Movie - The Diary of Anne Frank

Through young Anne's eyes, the Diary of Anne Frank tells the story of the Frank family who are forced to go into hiding with another family during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. For two years the families lived in the close quarters of a loft above a spice factory - not daring to pull back the curtains or even make a sound during the day. The stories Anne recounts in her diary are about the war and also how life continues on in their hidden home - Hannukah is celebrated, the children argue with their parents, romance blooms, and Anne nourishes her dreams of becoming a writer.

This 1959 film adaptation of a play adapted from the actual diary of Anne Frank won 3 Academy Awards and 5 more award nominations at the time of its release. While the movie is in black and white, the cinematography is beautiful and the film is still crisp.

Tuesday's Movie

While you're waiting for Prince Caspian to come out, you might want to check out the BBC's production of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this three disc series faitfully brings to life C.S. Lewis' classics. While these productions don't have the special effects of the Disney film, they have their own really special charm, with great acting and fabulous costumes and sets. If you're a big Narnia fan, you don't want to miss these.

Tuesday's Movie - Mirrormask

From the creative team of Neal Gaiman and Dave McKean (who brought us such books as Coraline and The Wolves in the Walls), comes Mirrormask, part live action, part animated, and a visually stunning, very far-out fantasy film.

Helena is a young girl being brought up in her family's traveling circus. After her mother falls mysteriously ill, Helena falls into a strange dreamscape filled with masked creatures, fish that swim through the air, and books that fly. With the help of her new friend Valentine, she embarks on a quest to save the white queen, who has fallen into a deep sleep while her kingdom is slowly being overtaken by the neighboring shadow land.

Recommended to general lovers of fantasy and those who are already fans of Neil Gaiman or Dave McKean, and the strange, dream-like atmospheres they create. If you like films like Labyrinth or The Dark Crystal, you also might want to check this out.

Rated PG.

Tuesday's Movie - Really WILD Animals

Check out our brand spankin' new dvd series - National Geographic's Really Wild Animals!

Each dvd covers a different topic within the animal kingdom. For example, in "Awesome Animal Builders," you'll learn about different ways animals build their homes. Did you know some birds make their nests entirely out of spit? Well, they do. You'll also see how spiders spin their webs, how termites craft their tall towers, and how the male weaver birds weave their nests (in order to attract a nice lady weaver bird).

Check out all the episodes in this great series, hosted by the wacky animated character "Spin." They each have fantastic footage showing up close and personal the wondrous/amazing/gross/cool animal kingdom. Funny and informative - complete with musical numbers! Great for kids K and up.

Tuesday's Movie

If you only know Kermit and the rest of the Muppets from their appearances on Sesame Street or feature length films like The Muppet Movie and Muppets in Space (among others), you need to check out episodes of The Muppet Show!

Jim Henson's The Muppet Show was the Muppets' variety show which aired in the late 70's and early 80's. Each show had a celebrity guest, including Elton John, Julie Andrews, and Mark Hamill (he played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars). The variety show itself includes wacky musical numbers and skits, but we also get to see all the crazy backstage antics. Poor Kermit has a hard time of it being M.C. and stage manager for this wild bunch!

We have two collections of "The Best of the Muppet Show," with three episodes each. Check them out!

Tuesday's Movie

Check out a new addition to our DVD collection - the Pixar Short Films Collection, Voume 1!

This collection is cool because you'll not only get to watch a bunch of quirky and hilarious short animated films, but you'll also get a glimpse into the evolution of Pixar films (Ratatouille, Toy Story, Finding Nemo...you know 'em). For example, in Tin Toy, about a frightened new toy facing the wrath of a seemingly monstrous baby, you can see how ideas for Toy Story began. The collection also includes shorts starring characters you may know and love - like Jack-Jack from The Incredibles and Mater from Cars.

These shorts are funny and imaginative, and all very different. A great choice if you're just looking for some good giggles and also perfect if you're really into Pixar's movies, can't get enough, and want to lean what makes these guys tick.

Tuesday's Movie(s)

Ever wondered what a typical day is like for an 8 year old girl in Ghana? How about a 5 year old in boy in Brazil?

Each film in the Families of the World series focuses on a different country and shows what daily life is like for two children from different families in that country. The films are narrated by children and everything is shown from the kids' perspective - you'll learn what it's like to go to school in another country, what kind of games kids like to play, and what kind of chores they do to help their families. Watch and compare the lives of kids around the world to your own - you may even want to make your own film showing what it's like to be a kid where you live!

Check 'em out! They are shelved in J non-fiction, on top of the bookshelf in the 900's.

Tuesday's Movie

In The Greatest Game Ever Played, based on the true story of the 1913 U.S. Open golf championship, we meet young Francis Ouimet, a boy from a working class family in Massachusetts. Francis dreams of playing golf, but, as it is a game reserved for the upper class, he contents himself with working as a caddy until he unexpectedly given a chance to compete as an amateur. Against all odds, but with the encouragement of his mother and a loud-mouthed 10-year old caddy, Ouimet goes up against the world's greatest player, and Francis's idol, Harry Vardon.

Exciting, moving, and funny, The Greatest Game Ever Played will definitely appeal to golf lovers and also those who enjoy inspiring underdog sports movies like Miracle and Remember the Titans.

Rated PG.

Tuesday's Movie

If you're looking for a good Shakespeare adaptation for kids, check out Shakespeare 4Kidz' versions of the plays Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream. The productions remain true to the original storylines, but include rocking musical numbers and adapted language.

These are filmed versions of play productions, so they have the feel of watching a play on the tv. Recommended for older grade school kids and teens.

Tuesday's Movie

If you like animated movies and really weird and wacky humor, "Teacher's Pet" might be just right for you. Leonard is a fourth-grade boy and Spot is his faithful dog, but Spot longs for something more. He wants to go to school! He wants to learn! He wants to be a real boy! Wearing a pair of glasses and a beanie cap, Spot enters Leonard's classroom as Scott Lead-Ready II and quickly becomes the teacher's pet.

On the last day of school, just when Leonard and Scott/Spot are getting excited to enjoy their summer off together, Leonard learns he is traveling with his mother to sunny Florida - and NO DOGS ALLOWED. Spot is heartbroken. Then he hears about Dr. Ivan Krank, the mad scientist who can turn animals into humans, and who lives in - where else? Florida! So, "disguised" as Scott Lead-Ready II, Spot hitches a ride with Leonard and his mom, and they are all in for the goofiest adventure you ever saw.

The slapstick comedy and crazy happenings will totally appeal to kids - but don't worry, the parents will be laughing out loud, too.

Rated PG.

Tuesday's Movie - Fairy Tale: A True Story

Frances and Elsie believe in fairies - they know all their names, and they've actually seen them, playing in the garden. Their parents just think of them as fanciful girls, but when Frances and Elsie produce actual photographs of the fairies, their parents, and soon the whole of England wonder - are fairies real? Based on true events which occured during World War I in England.

Fairy Tale: A True Story is appropriate for all ages - those who love fairies will especially enjoy it, obviously. Lovers of Peter Pan may also enjoy, and those who are interested in Sherlock Holmes and Harry Houdini, who are actual characters in the story.

Tuesday's Movie

Based off the book of the same name by Cornelia Funke, The Thief Lord is an adventure tale about two orphaned brothers who have run away to Venice, Italy, to escape from their cruel aunt and uncle. There, Prosper and Boniface are taken in by a mysterious boy known as the "Thief Lord" who leads a band of kids living in an abandoned movie theatre. In between dodging the bumbling detective who has been hired by the boys' relatives to find them, the children embark on a fantastic new adventure which involves a wooden wing and a carousel which can make the young old or the old young again.

This movie has fun and adventure, and really cool scenes of the beautiful city of Venice. Bonus: it also has a movie within a movie! (you'll see.)

You may want to read the book before you catch this flick!

Tuesday's Movie

Willa: An American Snow White

Part of the From the Brothers Grimm series - a collection of folk and fairy tales retold in American settings - Willa: An American Snow White is an adaptation of the Snow White story, set in the rural South around the year 1915.

After her father dies, Willa is left to live alone with her stepmother - an aging woman who was once a beloved and beautiful stage actress. The vain woman grows increasingly jealous of Willa, who, in addition to being young and beautiful, is a budding actress herself. To escape her stepmother's evil wrath, Willa leaves home and falls in with a travelling medicine show, performing every night and selling Chief Tonka's magical (and, as Willa finds out, horrible tasting) "elixir of life." When the evil stepmother finally catches up with her, we hope Willa's new friends and a handsome movie maker will be able to help protect her.

Beautifully filmed, humorous, and haunting, this movie will be especially appealing to older kids and adults who enjoy fairy tales. Included in this dvd's special features are two documentaries about the type of travelling medicine show depicted in the movie, and which were popular in the early 20th century. Also included is a Spanish language version, "El Elixir De La Felicidad."

If you like this movie, be sure to check out another film from this series, Ashpet: An American Cinderella.

Tuesday's Movie

If you like stories with adventure, action, science, friendship, brave princess warriors, and gigantic insects - you'll love Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Directed by Hayao Miyzaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke), this animated film is based on Miyazaki's manga series of the same name.

The story takes place in the future, about 1,000 years after most of humanity has been destroyed, leaving a few surviving kingdoms. The Earth is now covered with poisonous jungles where the air is so contanimated you can't survive for five minutes without a mask. These jungles are inhabited and protected by the Ohmus, humongous insects with great eyes covering their bodies. Nausicaa, brave young princess of the Valley of the Wind, is able to communicate with these powerful creatures, and she is making discoveries about the ways of the jungle in the hope of finding a way for humans to survive on their planet. When a neighboring kingdom threatens the Valley and all of mankind, Nausicaa defends her people, the insects she loves, and the Earth with bravery and wisdom.

If you're a fan of Hayao Miyazki or if you like anime in general, this film is not to be missed!