Our local Library here in Amarillo, TX (where I currently reside), has a great DVD/VHS collection. But better than that is the inter-Library Loan System , where you can order anything, and they will check tons of other Libraries to see if any of them have what you’re looking for; if so, it’ll get sent to your Library for you to pick up!
I usually use the ILLS quite often, usually ordering tons of DVDs/Books, at one shot. The only problem with this method is I never know how long it’ll take for my things to arrive. And often, I get a huge load of things at one time. Which wouldn’t be so bad, except the policy here in the great public Library system of Amarillo, TX, is that you can only keep your movies for 2 days!!
So Thursday, when I went to the Library to drop off some movies, a book, and pick up whatever was waiting for me, I wasn’t surprised to find 7 DVDs waiting…Thank God for internet renewals!
My collection of weekend movies is as follows:
PECKER, the 1998 John Waters odd-one-out movie. I have seen it before, but it’s been years, and since I’m on a Christina Ricci kick lately, I figured I’d re-watch it and see how it really was. Hopefully it doesn’t end up as one of my “movie misses!” Anyway, it stars that kid who was in T2:Judgement Day , so that’s interesting. Everything in it seems dysfunctional, as he runs around taking odd pictures that make him a near-overnight sensation, on his little camera.
Also on a Johnny Depp kick lately, and THE LIBERTINE one of his I’ve never seen, that’s also in my new “collection” of movies. Depp plays the 2nd Earl of Rochester, who writes a play, scandalizes the king, and dies from syphilis at around 33. Sounds like a dark drama–kind of like Johnny’s character in FROM HELL.
The newer film 21 from Robert Luketic, and starring Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne is a welcome one. I didn’t think it’d be in the Library systems so soon, but am glad it was, since I missed it in theatres. The movie, about a group of MIT students who engage in a spectacular card-counting scheme to break Vegas (based on a true story), seemed (of course, you can never tell with previews) to be right up my adventure-loving alley!
Another Christina Ricci great, also starring Samuel L Jackson, is BLACK SNAKE MOAN, which I saw almost all of not too long ago. I was intrigued by this dark drama about an abused girl, a seemingly crazy Southerner, and their seeking of salvation that seems just out of both of their reach. Plus, I believe Christina Ricci is amazing the way she can flow in and out of so many different types of dark characters. She has such an outstanding ability. Definitely one of my most favorite actresses…
UNLEASHED is a movie starring Jet Li, and Morgan Freeman (another favorite of mine), in a story that seems totally strange, but I am hoping is a worthwhile watch. The premis is that Jet Li is an awesome, pretty un-natural martial artist, trained and raised like a dog, to attack when, well, “unleashed.” Morgan Freeman is the blind man who finds Li’s character when he finally tries to break from his hellish “owner” (Bob Hoskins), and tries to help him on his path to freedom. Which of course is perilous, and his past haunts him.
The last movie on my list is MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND,
which I have seen countless times. I don’t know why I don’t own it yet…It is undoubtedly one of my all time faves. I love the Muppets, I love the R.L.Stevenson novel, I love Tim Curry–how can I go wrong?! This musical romp in search for treasure has an of-course-Muppet-twist
, headed by Gonzo and Rizzo following Jim Hawkins around the tale. They crack me up! The only downside is the mullet-wielding
Kevin Bishop , who plays Jim Hawkins (and who is, I guess, not as unknown as I thought)…But overall, this movie is great, and Tim Curry singing adds to it being as such!
And finally, I received from my local Library the second part of the 3rd Season of one of the greater lost causes of TV Series–The 4400 . I discovered this show on the Sci-Fi shelf, and got instantly hooked. It has a GREAT theme song
, and some really cool characters. Plus, there’s a guy in it with the name “
Mahershalalhashbaz Ali“–how do you go wrong with that??! How do you even pronounce that?!! The show is about a group of (you guessed it) 4400 people who disappeared at various times over about a 60 year span, then are suddenly returned one day all at the same time with no memory of anything, and not having aged a day. Over time, of course there are sneaky government officials and schemes, but there are basically messages from the future that say The 4400 were sent back to save humanity. They’re infused with abilities, ranging from plagues to future visions to messing with electricity (no, they’re NOT X-men!). The show started out weak, in ‘04, but as it went on (at least I thought), it got better..then the USA Network dropped it after the 4th Season. Which would’ve been alright, except it leaves everything unanswered and the show in mid-story. Which sucks. I am NOT looking forward to being left hanging!
