Brought to you by Dublin City Libraries and axis Ballymun, this multi-platform project is a celebration and a recognition of the city libraries and throughout the pandemic, we re-discovered the power of literature, music, art and culture as sources of entertainment and wellbeing.
The second blog post written by Transition Year student, Aisling, on recent work experience in Pearse Street Library, all about her favourite films this time.Starting off with arguably one of my favourite movies from 2019 - Elton John’s biopic, Rocketman! With arguably one of the best performances I’ve ever seen by Taron Egerton as the Pinball Wizard himself, Rocketman led me through a rollercoaster of emotions I never expected to take as we peer into the life of Reginald Dwight, now known as Elton John. I can concede that the cast album is nothing short as amazing as the film itself - it’s on constant loop on my Spotify! It’s definitely a film I’d recommend, though keep in mind it’s for 16 year olds and up!Yet another film that see’s Taron Egerton as the lead, we next have Kingsman:The Secret Service, which is the first of the two films. The story is a perfect blend of ‘gentleman spies’, British comedy and Iggy Azalea references to keep you wanting more. One of the very best things I can note about this film is how its fight scenes are filmed. I can’t help but let my jaw drop each time the Church Scene is shown! Kingsman tells the story of Eggsy Unwin, a young man who grew up in a dangerous part of England with his mum, baby stepsister and frankly horrible stepfather. He soon meets up with Harry Hart, better known through his codename of “Galahad” through yet another amazingly filmed battle scene, and eventually Eggsy finds out his father used to be part of the Secret Service of gentleman spies, and begins his journey to become one of them, despite being your stereotypical ‘chav’.I can’t go through this list without mentioning the most iconic of animated films I’ve ever seen, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse! Definitely my favourite film of 2018, Into The Spider-Verse completely changed my view on animated movies with its stylised 3-D look to its special effects, story, and spectacular soundtrack. This film tells the story of Miles Morales, a Afro-Latino fourteen year old boy who finds himself holding up his universe’s Spider-Man’s task of saving the multiverse. And let me tell you, there are plenty of Spider-Men to go around. My one and only love will always be Gwen Stacy, however. This film is definitely something I’d recommend if you’re interested in animation but want a more mature story.With its jaw-dropping stop-motion animation and beautiful story, I’m surprised no one has talked much about Kubo and the Two Strings. Kubo and the Two Strings tells the story of Kubo, a young boy, along with Monkey and Beetle (yes, that is their names), trying to find and wear his father’s legendary suit of armour in order to defeat an evil spirit. The movie also includes a chilling, more Eastern cover of The Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps by Regina Spektor. I can’t say much about the film due to spoilers, but I can say for certain that it was beautiful and stunning throughout. Alas, it’s probably one of the last feature length films the company, LAIKA Studios, will create due to low budgets.Now, call me childish, but you have to admit that The Lego Movie is actually the peak of film. I could go on and say that this film is a masterpiece, but I can already see you rolling your eyes from beyond the screen. Don’t you think I can’t. With it’s stylised CGI animation (yes! No stop-motion, minus the credits,) The Lego Movie told a timeless story behind a story through it’s fantasy world of Emmet, an ordinary individual prophesied to be the Special, and is entrusted with a huge responsibility of saving the Lego world from the cruel ways of Lord Business. And honestly? This movie is too quotable for its own good. I can’t count how many times in 2015 I found myself randomly yelling “SPACESHIP!” at the top of my lungs.
Vampires - From Dracula to Twilight and everything in between
Post by Fabienne Sauberlich.Are the Acheronian Dracula and the sparkling chick magnet Edward Cullen one and the same? Definitely not. But they are both vampires. Maybe there is not "That Vampire" anymore but a few very different types of vampires? And that is exactly how it is; they kind of spread over the whole media market placing themselves in different genres with different attributes. So if you think you know vampires, vampires fiction and vampires movies you might have missed some. What vampires do you like? The creature of human nightmares, the pitiless hunter of the night longing for your blood? You can find them with famous horror authors like Stephen King in Salem’s Lot, hunted by brave people like Van Helsing, Buffy and so on, or in classics like Dracula and Nosferatu.Or is it the more complex vampire you are looking for? The one struggling with his conflict between the need for blood and his reluctance to kill or hurt others. Fighting his own demons while losing everyone he loves, to be damned to an eternal life of loneliness while trying to find his way, like Louis in Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, or like Darran Shan, and other characters of fantasy authors.If a vampire has human-like feelings as Louis and most modern vampires have, he is also able to love. But how can you be with the one you love when losing control might result in killing him/her? And if you did fall in love with a stranger, could you still love him if you knew his secret? Would you follow him into his world? Love, danger, secrets and dark passion. That is what you find in the stories of Lynsay Sands, Kerrelyn Sparks and many more.So that is what they are. Vampires. Murderers and gentleman. Passionate and cool as ice. And everything in between.------------------------About our Guest BloggerFabienne Sauberlich is a student of Library and Information Science in Germany with special interests in Psychology, Horror, Fantasy and Mystery Media.
During Culture Night 2012 the Goethe-Institut Irland gave Dubliners the opportunity to see new film versions of Grimms' Fairy Tales - shot on location in Germany in old castles, monasteries and forts and starring well known German film and television actors. Now, both Rathmines Library and Cabra Library can offer the same opportunity to their patrons with screenings of three of the most well-known titles during the mid-term break, between Tuesday 30th October and Friday 2nd November.The films follow the original stories as collected by the Brothers Grimm and retain many elements that have been lost in up-dated or shortened versions - for example, the Wicked Queen in Schneewitchen (or Snow White as it is known in English) tries to kill Snow White three times, first with a belt that tightens around her waist, next with a poisoned comb for her hair, before hitting on the (almost) successful plan of tempting her with a poisoned apple. The real castle setting in Dornroschen (Sleeping Beauty) lends an authenticity to the tale - which turns it into a charming love story. In Rapunzel, there is plenty of background on how the young girl with the fabulously long hair came to be shut up in the tower - though the film doesn't quite go into how she notices her dress getting tighter after the secret visits from the Prince, as told in the original story. Perhaps he was bringing her chocolates?The full list of screenings is available on our website.All films will be shown in German with English subtitles and are almost one hour long. These films are being screened as part of the 200 year anniversary of the first publication of Grimms' Fairy Tales and are presented in co-operation with the Goethe-Institut Irland.These particular films are not currently available to borrow from Dublin City Public Libraries, however several other film versions of Grimms' stories are available on our catalogue. Here are some examples; Snow White and the Huntsman, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (Disney), Sleeping Beauty (Disney), Thumbelina (20th Century Fox), A Cinderella Story and Ella Enchanted.See also, an earlier blog about Grimms 200 - 'Once Upon A Time'
With the release of the final Harry Potter movie this summer (on July 15 for those who are counting the days like me!!), and the release of the latest Harry Potter movie on DVD, it’s never too late to become a Harry Potter fan, (or like me read all the stories again in preparation for the film!)All seven Harry Potter novels and DVDs are available to borrow in Dublin City Public Libraries or you can reserve them online using your borrower number and pin number. Your borrower number is on your library card and if you do not have a pin number you can get it at your local Dublin City Public Library. Harry Potter novels and DVD's in order from first to last:Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone / Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone DVDHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets / Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets DVDHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban / Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban DVDHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire / Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVDHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix / Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVDHarry Potter and the Half Blood Prince / Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince DVDHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – PART 1 DVDSome of these titles are also available in large print copy and some are available in talking book format on CD.
