



The more I watch this television series, the more I like it! In a nutshell, roommates Sheldon and Leonard are 20 something Caltech professors/researchers who truly make geekiness very funny. Sheldon was a child prodigy and now is a theoretical physicist. Leonard is an experimental physicist. Their best friends Rajesh, an astrophysicist, and Howard, an engineer, add a lot of quirky humor. Penny, the attractive Cheesecake Factory waitress next door, is a fantastic foil to her oftentimes socially inept, SF/fantasy, comic book loving neighbors. She may not have the type of smarts that Sheldon and Leonard do, but she’s not a dumb bunny either. She can get to the heart of a matter pretty quickly. The relationship triangle is worth many laughs and rings true through all the comedic twists. The series is well written and original.
I suppose that several events and people are fictionalized; nonetheless the life of Coco Chanel is an interesting story. I like the way the movie shows her faults, strengths, failures, successes, and influences. I think that Audrey Tautou is perfectly cast, and all the other actors do a great job. The costumes are excellent, as are the sets. I don’t know anything about the fashion world or clothing styles. But I do like this story about a strong woman, who was a true original, making a success from difficult circumstances.
A collection of love stories set in New York, this movie has a light touch. In truth, it has gotten mixed reviews, but for me it struck the right note. I enjoyed all the segments and seeing different directors with varied styles. I liked all the actors and have to say that Julie Christie was a standout. I recommend watching this movie and Paris, Je T’Aime as a double feature.
Loved it! The animation is stunning. The story is sweet and with substance. It’s great that Hayao Miyazaki does not back away from important issues (for example environmental/pollution), but still manages to create a movie that can be enjoyed by young, old, and those in-between. He is a master craftsman & it’s refreshing that Studio Ghibli produces such high quality, hand drawn work amidst all the computer-generated animation out there today. I highly recommend Miyazaki’s other films: Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Porco Rosso, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and The Castle of Cagliostro.
Oh, why not for a year end favorite. In my youth, I was a fan of the original TV series. I even went to a few Star Trek conventions. I’m pleased that the storyline got a back-story, so to speak. Perhaps this is not a “great” movie. But it’s a really, really good movie. I loved that Leonard Nimoy had a part and found many of his scenes quite touching. The casting worked all around. For instance, Karl Urban nailed the part of Bones. Bruce Greenwood was great as Captain Pike. Eric Bana did a noteworthy job as the villain, Nero. It was a stroke of genius to have Simon Pegg play Scotty. Chris Pine made an excellent young Kirk. It took me a little time to get used to Zachary Quinto as Spock. By the middle of the movie, I was OK with it. The movie scores high points for the cinematography, special effects, and overall production.
(Editor’s Note: every year at the Library staff are asked to submit a list of their favorite books, DVDs, and albums. These can be materials that came out before 2009, as long as they came to discover them in the past year. We’ve invited everyone to elaborate on their choices. Look for additional blog pieces in the weeks to come. -TG)
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