Life of Pi, a beautiful Journey of faith

It's been days and I am still awestruck! Not since “Avatar”, has a movie left me so riveted! “Life of Pi” turned out to be nothing like I had anticipated. I went in with modest expectations, and came out truly amazed. This movie reaffirmed that there is humanity in cinema. From the trailer, I had anticipated amazing visuals, yet was not quite sure about the story. I figured mediocre, at best(I was mistaken) The story is incredible, a fascinating parable about faith and determination. The director, Ang Lee is impeccable(As always). His mastery of imagery is superb

The story centers on Pi, the son of an Indian zookeeper, who due to unfortunate events finds his family and himself on a freighter to Canada. All the animals are on board and are to be sold once they arrive. A shipwreck later, the boy finds himself alone on a lifeboat with a tiger, zebra, orangutan and hyena. The story is told in flashback mode to a reporter.(Normally I don't care for flashback story-lines) Pi, now a middle-aged man, promises that by the end of the tale, the reporter will believe in God.

I will not give away any more details, except that there are two versions of the shipwreck story and you have to discover which version is believable to yourself. What we do know is that a young man went on a hero's journey, resolved either by pure human perseverance and a Darwinian instinct for survival or by divine intervention. This, in my opinion, is the best part of the film. Long after the credits have rolled you will keep “Life of Pi” in your brain and ponder on this fantastic story's message...It makes no difference what religion you follow, or don't follow for that matter, as long as you're blessed and find reason for your existence, NO ONE has the right to tell you otherwise. We should learn to live and let live and above all never lose hope even when we are pushed to our weakest points.

So if you want a movie that will not only make you think, but captivate you visually as well, then be sure to make a trip to the Warsaw Community Public Library and pick up a copy of “Life of Pi” and remember to tell them Missy sent you!

The Beautiful Solidarity of Youth

More times than not movies about high school miss the mark. Whether it's the actors, the stories, or just the overall feeling of inaccuracy,it just rarely feels authentic. When I think of "Perks of being a Wallflower" I think perfection! Everything about this movie is spot on.. The acting, directing, soundtrack, the story, writing- everything!

Take the best things about the 80s-90's: making mix tapes for people you like, going to dances, having your first crushes, dealing with insecurities and shyness, knowing deep secrets about the popular people in school, but then combine all of the dramatic scenes with very powerful performances, and you have a film that is absolutely fabulous!

Perks takes place in 1991, and centers around a group of friends who are in high school in Pittsburgh. All of them are Seniors except one, Charlie(Logan Lerman), who as an incoming Freshman is already counting down the days to graduation(1384). Charlie starts high school with no friends, a messed up past and struggles with mental illness. He then meets Patrick(Ezra Miller) and Sam(Emma Stone) a couple of sibling seniors who befriends and welcomes him into their group of friends. From there Charlie starts to experience quite a few firsts in his life, kiss, girlfriend, first high, etc. The acting is superb especially Emma Watson, who proves she's not just Hermione Granger (I was impressed) I was also impressed that Stephen Chbosky not only wrote the novel, but the screenplay as well and even directed the film! (What a talent).

In terms of high school movies I would put this right by "Breakfast Club" because “Perks”depicts the loneliness, anxiety and all-out mess of adolescence so perfectly.

So what is this movie trying to say to all of us? Charlie said it best when he said “I know we'll all become somebody-we'll all become old photographs and we'll all become somebody's mom and dad. Right now these moments are not stories, this is happening...and in this moment I swear we are infinite.” And it did happen to us and our parents and it is happening right now to our children and we all are infinite.

Is there something I should know?

In the Pleasure Groove : Love, death and Duran Duran

by John Taylor

  Oh how time flies! Remember when MTV had music videos all day long and quite of few of those videos through the 80's were of the infamous Duran Duran? Growing up in the 80's plastered all over my bedroom walls were posters of the Duran guys and my favorite was John Taylor. So of course when his book “In the Pleasure Groove” came across my desk I had to read it...Please please tell me now..Is there something I should know?

Most of us assume the life of a successful musician is all glitz and glam. On the contrary, Mr. Taylor opens our eyes to the stress, demands, sacrifices and scars that go along with being a pop idol.

This is the story of a nerdy, bespectacled only-child and poor student, who had a single-minded focus on music. So much so that he dedicates all of his energies to making it in the music business. His ambitious goals are to make it to Madison Square Garden in 4 short years. In order to accomplish this he feeds D2 to the teen fan machine,and music video world. This propels the band to “Supergroup” status which in turn undermines their credibility as legitimate artists. (They were and are legit)

What I liked most about John's book was he not only focused on his life's experience with Duran Duran but his early life as well. He was very candid and honest about his ups and downs, his short comings and his struggles with self acceptance. He also did a very rare thing-he told his story and he did it without dragging anyone through the mud(Which in the music industry is rarity) The only sadness I experienced is when I finished his book.

I just wish people would stop saying "it's been over 32 years since you formed Duran..." ugh – I feel so old!

If you were and are a Duran fan...READ IT!

Merry Christmas

There's no denying that we're fast approaching that time of year again, the smell of pine and the faint sound of bells jingling on the horizon. How do you get into the holiday mood? Decorate the tree with popcorn, bake gingerbread cookies, gift-wrap your dad's car or roast chestnuts on an open fire? Does anyone actually roast chestnuts on an open fire? Another way to get into the holiday spirit is to watch a Christmas movie. The Warsaw Community Public Library has a wonderful selection of Christmas movies to choose from. Here are some of my favorites.

"It's a Wonderful Life." Whose heart hasn’t melted as neighbors rush in to empty their pockets to help George replace the missing money from Bailey Building and Loan?

Another excellent Christmas movie is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Who can forget the moment the Grinch realizes the true meaning of the holiday, learning that Christmas is in the heart and not in presents?

Are you in the mood for a Christmas miracle? Well, look no further "Miracle on 34th Street." Kris Kringle is in danger of being committed to an asylum because of his insistence that he is the true Santa Claus. Can Kris’ attorney save Kris and Christmas?

Good grief, who wouldn’t enjoy "A Charlie Brown Christmas"? Everyone remembers how Charlie picks out the most pathetic tree imaginable and his friends pitch in to decorate it and miraculously transform it into a beautiful sight.

The film "A Christmas Story" is everyone’s childhood wrapped into one. All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder Carbine Action, 200-shot, Range Model Air Rifle, but his hopes of getting one dim as each adult he encounters (even Santa) tells him he’ll shoot his eye out.

Tired of all the old Christmas classics? Why not try “The Polar Express” which is a glorious example of holiday cheer, and rediscovering the pure spirit of a child at Christmas.

And last but not least is Dickens classic tale “A Christmas Carol”, with Ebenezer Scrooge transforming from, well, a scrooge, into an affectionate, compassionate person.

There’s still plenty of time to pick up some good holiday flicks that'll get you into the holiday spirit. So why don’t you stop in at the Warsaw Community Public Library and pick up one of these titles or one of your own favorite Christmas movies?

The Odd Life of Timothy Green grows on you

The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a modern day fable, a simple story about parenting, healing the wounds of childhood and familial love.

When Cindy and Jim Green learn that they are not able to have children, they spend one last night fantasizing about the kid who will never inhabit their lives. They scribble all the boy's imagined attributes on pieces of paper, put the notes in a wooden box and bury it in the yard.

Then a funny thing happens, as they sleep a freak storm arrives, pouring rain on just their house. Something stirs in the garden, and then … they discover a real, live boy has sprouted from their garden and despite the fact that he looks like a normal child, he has leaves near his ankles.. His name is Timothy. As the Greens get to know Timothy they come to realize he personifies every trait they wrote on their buried list. Timothy uses these traits to repair rifts and brighten lives.

Jennifer Garner makes a funny and cool mom and Joel Edgerton is a great kind-hearted dad who has his own childhood issues. The boy who plays Timothy(CJ Adams) is beyond adorable. He, in my opinion, is the real star of the show and the best part of the film.

What Timothy Green does best is capture the sadness of infertility, celebrate the eccentricities of an endearing child and probe the longings, fears and worries of parents. It also reminds us of the briefness of childhood and how as parents we all make mistakes. What's more, the movie stresses the importance of family and how one person's life can touch and inspire so many others.

The moral of this story? Love and be loved while you can, because nothing is forever, especially childhood. So why not come to the Warsaw Community Public Library and pick up this movie or another one and make it a family night?

Eat, Pray, Love

This book is fantastic, especially for me, someone who is beginning my own spiritual journey. I love the way Liz Gilbert explains her experiences and the insights she gained from other peoples words and deeds. I listened to this book on CD and it was read by Gilbert. If you get a chance to do this, I highly recommend it.  She has a gift for mimic, not completely recreating the voices of others, but reproducing the ascents and rhythm of their speech, letting us hear what she heard when they spoke.  I must have a copy of this book!  I know I will reread it many times.








Review by LibraryladyEat Pray Love Tour

"I'm never gonna see a Merman"

Of course we all know the typical horror movie and how it goes, there's usually a cabin in a wooden area(or other desolate place) Five young friends, lots of partying, lots of sex(a weekend of fun). Then murder and mayhem ensue and said friends are picked off by a “boogeyman” who is out maneuvered by one lone survivor(usually the female "virgin") who sets the scene for the upcoming sequel.(Buzzz! Wrong!)

It's not really fair to call Cabin in the Woods a horror movie, although it is disguised as one. Instead it's a new take on a genre that was starting to get rather stale(How many "Final Destinations" does it take to finally get to the end of a franchise?) This little gem of a film plays up and skewers every horror movie cliche imaginable. It forces us(the viewers) to identify why we love to watch bad things happen to everyday people on screen.

I have to admit there are scenes in this movie that made me laugh hysterically( cue the Merman) and others that made me cringe and cover my eyes(the blood and gore in the last minutes of the film)If you are a fan of Joss Whedon or H.P. Lovecraft then you will absolutely love this movie! Whedon does not disappoint! There is also a great cameo that I shan't reveal.(They appear close to the end of the movie)

I found it funny to see all the negative reviews of the film, many of which said the acting was horrible, the script was awful, the plot made no sense.(Yada yada yada) This is what the movie is making fun of. We, as viewers are so use to seeing the "hot kids get naked and then gruesomely murdered for no apparent reason" slasher rip-off then incessantly complain about how typical and boring it is and yet when filmmakers breathe new life into the same song and dance, we get annoyed when the “rules” get broken! It is clear that these reviewers did not get the irony or the whole point of the film. In my opinion the whole point of this film was to put a mirror in front of our faces and make us realize what we have become as viewers.

I don't want to give any of the plot away but I will say that the ending of this film offers no possibility for a sequel.(Or let's hope not) This may be one of those little films destined to become a cult classic.