While we do love us some books, believe it not, we do have a life outside of reading. So to highlight our other pop culture interests, on the last Monday of each month, we each will highlight three other “happenings” from the last month. Big events on favorite TV shows, new movies we’ve watched, old movies we’ve “discovered,” etc. Pretty much whatever we found of particular interest outside of the book world during the last month. Share your own favorite things in the comments!
Serena’s Picks
Movie: “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”
My husband made the mistake of mentioning that he had started this one while doing a workout down in our basement. So of course I informed him that he’d have to stop immediately and find something else to watch, since I wanted to watch this one too! And I was right to make him re-start! This was a fun action movie, all the more so for the fact that it is based off of a true story and that the main character is said to have been the primary inspiration for James Bond. All of the actors were phenomenal and there was just the right amount of humor to be entertaining without feeling over done. This is a Guy Ritchie movie, and it very much felt like one.
Movie: “The Sheep Detectives”
I actually went and saw this last month while it was in theaters with my boys. I had been trying to find a good theater movie for them for a while, something that, god forbid, I could enjoy as well! And this one was the perfect fit! It had strong “Babe” vibes, if perhaps a bit sadder at times. But it was funny, whimsical, and 5, 7, and *cough* 40 year-old all enjoyed it! From watching the trailer, I was most concerned about the CGI work with the animals, as this can really throw me out of these kinds of movies when it’s done poorly. But here I quickly forgot to even watch for it, since the sheep themselves were all also excellent characters. I definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a wholesome family movie!
Video Game: “Divinity: Original Sin 2”
While I’m unwilling to truly confront my “Baldur’s Gate 3” addiction in any meaningful way, I have decided that I could at least try to expand my Larian boundaries. For one thing, they announced their upcoming game, “Divinity,” at last year’s Games Awards. So, in preparation for that (which is years away, frankly) I’ve decided to dive into their back catalog. Honestly, their whole “Divinity” series is a hot mess of spinoffs, prequels, reboots, and who knows what else. I took one look at the name progression of the games and simply skipped to their last and most recent, “Divinity: Original Sin 2.” And man, has it been fun! It’s easy to see the influences carried forward into “Baldur’s Gate 3,” but this is also definitely its own thing. I can’t tell whether BG3 has become easy simply because I’m so familiar, or whether this one truly has harder combat, but I’ve definitely been challenged by the game play here. It’s also a massive game, so I haven’t finished it yet to see where the story goes, but so far, it’s been a blast and the writing is of the same high quality as BG3. Definitely check it out if you need to scratch an RPG itch (this year has been sadly lacking on this front, as far as new games go.).
Kate’s Picks
Soundtrack/Concert/Film Screening: “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
This is by NO means a new ‘pick’ for me, as I have been a fan of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” since I was a teenager. But at the end of June right before ALA I had the opportunity to not only go to a screening of the film for its 25th Anniversary at a local theater, but the creator of the show/music/character, John Cameron Mitchell, had a Q and A and live performance of music to go with it (I definitely wept a couple times when he sang songs from the show). And for a good long while afterwards well into July I had the soundtrack, from the movie AND the original off Broadway production, on a loop. It’s the story of Hedwig, an East German glam rocker who is trying to break it into the music business after their music and ideas were stolen by their ex/song writing collaborator Tommy Gnosis, who has found superstardom. As Hedwig tours around/stalks Tommy, we find out their back story as a queer man living in Cold War Berlin who, in love with an American GI and desperate to escape Germany, agreed to have a sex change at their lover’s behest… only to have it botched. Now they are traveling and playing the songs trying to get recognition, and on the verge of a breakdown whilst doing it. It’s been a favorite of mine for YEARS, and the influence is strong and undeniable (honestly, so much of “The Vampire Lestat” in music and journey just SCREAMS “Hedwig” to me).
Film: “Evil Dead Burn”
“Evil Dead” movies have been in my life since I was in high school, and I think that it may be the most consistent of horror franchises when it comes to creativity and quality. Which is saying a lot for a franchise that has been around for more than forty years. The newest installment is “Evil Dead Burn”, and you KNOW that Terror Tuesday people and I went to see it in the theater in all its over the top and gory glory! Alice is a recent widow, though her marriage was messy and rife with abuse. When her in laws insist that everyone go to the family cabin (which has been neglected for years) to grieve together, Alice feels obligated to attend, even if it’s incredibly toxic. But little do they all know that Deadites have a link to the family history, and they are on a mission to find something, possessing and destroying anything in their wake. I didn’t love this one as much as I did “Evil Dead Rise”, but it has everything I want in an “Evil Dead” film: gore, nonsense, and lots of iconic Deadites action. It was a blast, even if I was cringing throughout (I wouldn’t have it any other way).
Vacation: Alaska
This month my husband, daughter, and I went on a Disney Cruise to Alaska. While cruises intimidate me (there are so many people and it’s SO overstimulating), I did love the idea of going to Alaska, so when my husband suggested we do that this summer I insisted we go North instead of South to see the 49th State. And man, it was absolutely gorgeous. We cruised by glaciers, stopped in Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan, and I was able to see eagles, ravens, whales, and a moose (I also ALMOST saw a brown bear but by the time I got to the group of people who had seen it it had dashed back into the trees, DANG IT!). Not to mention take so many landscape photos, which has been a hobby of mine for as long as I can remember. And I will fully admit that I also enjoyed the cruise itself, as it felt far more laid back than the one I went on this winter (though that’s probably due in part to being there with my husband and kid instead of husband and other couples). And having a morning in Vancouver was also lovely. All in all it was a nice family vacation and I wholly intend to go back to Alaska someday!
The Library Ladies 