Search results matching tag 'dvd'

MediaBank DVD Dispenser now available at Central

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:51:00 GMT

The MediaBank DVD Dispenser is now available at Central Library's Popular Materials Center! The dispenser can be accessed during Central's regular business hours: Monday through Thursday 9am - 9pm, Friday & Saturday 9am - 6pm, and Sunday from 1pm - 5pm.

Access the MediaBank Catalog at http://media.evpl.org to browse the collection, and place up to three reserves on Bestseller Express DVDs that are currently available in the dispenser. You then have 4 hours to bring your library card to the MediaBank DVD Dispenser and check out your DVDs before your reserve expires, making the titles available to other customers.

Questions? Take a look at the MediaBank FAQ, visit Central Library, or call us at (812) 428-8246.

3DTV, or how your brand new HDTV is already obsolete

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:34:00 GMT

In case you were unaware, 3D is once again all the rage. With the record-breaking success of Avatar, movie studios, TV networks, and electronics manufacturers are looking to capitalize on this recent surge in popularity.

There has never been a good way to reproduce the "3D movie theater" experience at home (those red/blue glasses don't count!). That will supposedly change with 3DTVs (3D-capable HDTVs). All the major TV manufacturers had 3DTVs on display earlier this month at the Consumer Electronics Show, with the first models expected to go on sale this summer. Movies will be available in 3D on Blu-ray Disc, and TV networks may broadcast in 3D (ESPN & The Discovery Channel are launching 3D channels). Sony has also demoed PlayStation 3 videogames in 3D.

In non-techie terms, 3D video works by having footage from two perspectives...one for the left eye and one for the right. By using 3D glasses, video intended for the left eye is hidden from the right eye and vice versa.

You've probably seen DVDs that come with the old-school red & blue glasses. While the 3D effect is okay, these glasses decrease brightness, give everything a green hue, and can even cause headaches/eye strain.

Most movie theaters nowadays use polarized 3D (i.e. glasses with grey lenses). This provides for incredible 3D without affecting color or brightness. But this isn't possible at home, as it requires a projector with a special lens and a special screen to project onto.

3DTVs will utilize wirelessly-synchronized shutter glasses, while quickly alternating between the left & right perspectives. The lenses are actually thin LCDs that darken & lighten. So the TV will display a single frame intended for your left eye, the right lens on the shutter glasses will darken completely, and only your left eye will see the frame. The next frame is only for your right eye, so when the TV displays it the left lens will darken & the right lens will lighten, making the frame viewable only to your right eye. As this will be running at 120 frames per second, it should appear silky smooth to the human eye.

Being the nerd that I am, in-home 3D definitely sounds cool. But with prices dropping on HDTVs, will consumers be willing to pay a premium for 3DTVs? Will folks that already own a HDTV go through the hassle of upgrading? Will current-gen Blu-ray players be 3D-compatible, or will they have to be upgraded with newer players? And will movie/TV-watchers and gamers scoff at having to constantly wear dorky 3D glasses?

What do you think? Sound off in the comments below!

More Info

CES 2010 TV Trends @ AnandTech: An article about upcoming TVs shown at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The Illustrated 3D Movie List: A list of past, and upcoming, 3D movies.
Next "Harry Potter" Movies Coming in 3D: Warner Brothers just announced that the upcoming Harry Potter movies will be in 3D.

Winter Holiday movies

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:39:00 GMT

During the few days I had off over the holidays, I was able to catch a lot of movies. Some in the theater (Avatar- excellent!; Sherlock Holmes- pretty good), but even more at home. Two movies that I had been waiting to come out on DVD did so right before I left on vacation.

500 Days of Summer stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (loved him in 3rd Rock from the Sun) and Zooey Deschanel. Tom (Gordon-Levitt) is a greeting card writer who believes in fate and one true love. Enter the new girl at work (Deschanel), who Tom believes to be is soul mate. Unfortunately, Summer does believe in much of anything, but especially relationships. The movie bounces back and forth throughout their relationship's beginning, middle, and end. Quirky romance, great soundtrack. Highly recommended.

The creator of Office Space is back with his newest movie, Extract. This time we are introduced to happy business owner, Joel, who is content with his extract business, his wife, and his life. A freak on-the-job accident, however, throws Joel's life into a spin. Jason Bateman stars as business owner, Joel, Ben Affleck as his slacker best friend, Kristen Wiig as Joel's bored wife, and Mila Kunis plays a con artist in the middle of it all. I love Office Space (who doesn't?), so I had high expectations for Extract. I really wanted to love it, but it falls short for me.

To Be and To Have

wag.mado@evpl — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:38:00 GMT

Recently, I revisited some of my favorite movies – ones that stayed with me for weeks after seeing them. Here’s what I had to say following my first viewing of To Be and To Have in 2005. It still holds true today.

If you shy away from subtitles, take this one home anyway. French director Nicholas Philibert brings us this enchanting documentary about a one room school house set in the French countryside. The film gives us an inside look into the lives of children ages 4 through 10 and the interactions with their devoted teacher, Georges Lopez. It was shot during a six month period, starting in mid-winter and ending with the retirement of Lopez in the spring. The connection between Lopez and his students is strong, as he has been the only teacher they have ever known. Watching this film brings up many emotions, as scenes were shot in the classroom, at home, and on a fieldtrip. In the end, one realizes how remarkable this teacher is as he guides his students through all varieties of life lessons.

Watch it and let me know what you think.

Classic Film Series Continues Thursday Evening with 6:00PM Screening of "Stormy Weather"

potentate@evpl — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:51:00 GMT

We're expecting a crowd Thursday evening at 6:00 as the Library's Classic Film Series continues with a screening of the 1943 musical with an all-star, African-American cast, "Stormy Weather." Starring Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and Bill Robinson. In 2001, Stormy Weather was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Come a little early for popcorn and a preview, and stay late for discussion!

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

librarianinheels@evpl — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:31:00 GMT

I am a big, big Woody Allen fan, and have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of his most recent movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, on DVD. I just watched it, and it did not disappoint. It was wonderful.

Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johannson) are American tourists in Barcelona for the summer. Vicky is a regimented, practical student of Catalan identity, and Cristina is a free-spirited filmmaker, fresh off the disappointment of her first project, a 12-minute film about why people can't seem to find what they want from love. Both girls become involved, physically and emotionally, with a sensual, hot-blooded Spanish painter, Juan Antonio Gonzalo (Javier Bardem), who recently divorced from his sensual, hot-blooded, completely insane ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz).

While the film might sound a little intense - and it is - it is also a classic Woody Allen dramedy. In the same way New York has served for so many of Allen's films as a character in its own right, so here does the city of Barcelona, which only serves to make the story even more emotional, beautiful and interesting. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz (real-life romantic partners) show what great chemistry they have in this story. Bardem, in particular, makes a wonderful turn as the tortured artist who can't seem to make good use of his talent without a woman by his side. His appeal to Vicky, Cristina and Maria Elena is what drives the film - they are obviously representative of the many facets of his personality.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona was charming, funny, intense and beautiful - sure to be one day considered a classic among Woody Allen's films. I knew as soon as the soundtrack (which is also amazing - I've already purchased the soundtrack!) and the narration (another trait of Allen's that is used well with this film) began that I was going to love this movie, and I did.

Former Newbery Award Winner Coming Here!

UndergroundLibrarian@evpl — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:49:00 GMT

I love to hear authors speak about their books. This March, Patricia MacLachlan is coming to Central Library as part of the Evansville Area Reading Council Young Authors Program. She is the 1986 Newbery Award winner (best American children's novel as selected by American Library Association) for Sarah, Plain and Tall. I heard her speak several years ago at Butler University and really enjoyed her talk. While traveling to a speaking engagement one time she was to be met at an airport by someone she did not know, but she headed straight to the right person --he was holding a sign that said, "Jeremy, Small and Short." In at least one of her books she has a character saving a handfull of dirt from a place important to them. This is something she does herself. I fully expect her upcoming presentation to be equally entertaining.

Patricia MacLachlan has written several books before Sarah and a large number afterwards, including a continuation of the adventures of Anna and Caleb and their family. Some of them are available on DVD, including Sarah Plain and Tall starring Glenn Close. When I heard her speak, she was trying to prevent her Sarah family from being made into a tv series the way Little House on the Prairie was, on the theory that it went on and on far too long and lost track of the original idea. It will be interesting to see if she has comments on the media that has been made from her works.

To see the books in EVPL by Patricia MacLachlan, click here.

So many of her books are so good! I really like Sarah, of course, and Through Edward's Eyes, a much more contemporary story. What's your favorite?

The Spirit of the Beehive

wag.mado@evpl — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:07:00 GMT

Thanks to a recommendation by my friend, I watched a stunning film this weekend. Set in a Castilian village somewhere in early 1940's rural Spain, this movie has won international acclaim as a masterpiece - labeled one of the greatest Spanish films of the 1970's. On the surface, it is a coming of age story in which six-year-old Ana, played by Ana Torrent, tries to make sense of the world after seeing a young girl die in the classic 1931 film, Frankenstein. However, the movie is chock-full of symbolism and is also a commentary on life at the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War. The cinematic photography shot by Luis Cuadrado (who was going blind while the film was being made) is stark and breathtaking. Each scene seems to stay in your memory as a snapshot. As with many foreign films, the pace is hauntingly slow and the dialogue is sparse, adding to the intense feeling and emotion of the storyline. Isabel Telleria plays the innocent Ana's older sister Isabel, and has a menacing side to say the least. Together, these beautiful little girls bring this powerful story to life.

The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) was written and directed by Victor Erice and is one of only three movies he made over a 20 year period. The other two films, The South (1982) and The Quince Tree Sun (1992) are also highly regarded.

Treat yourself to The Spirit of the Beehive. It now ranks among my top ten favorite foreign films.

DTV 101 (part 1): The "Digital TV Transition"; Converter boxes (coupon requests due by 12/31/08!)

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:15:00 GMT

As stated at DTV2009.GOV, "At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting." Is this gibberish to you? Do you realize that some of your televisions may require a converter box beginning February 17? In this, the first in a series of blog posts about the digital TV (DTV) transition, we'll discuss what this transition "thing" is all about; why it's happening; what a converter box is and if you'll need to purchase one; and if so, how to apply for a government-subsidized coupon towards the purchase of a converter box. The last day to apply for these $40-off coupons is December 31.

What is the "Digital TV Transition"?

Many items we use everyday have already transitioned from analog to digital: cassettes to CDs, VHS to DVD, etc. Switching to the digital formats brought some great new features (CDs: track skipping, better sound quality; DVDs: chapter markers, greatly improved video & audio quality), but these transitions weren't without their share of headaches. This is very similar to what the transition to DTV is.

Besides some minor changes in 1953 with the advent of color television, our current analog television standard has remained relatively unchanged since 1941. Technology has evolved, and the old standard has become obsolete.

Currently, television stations are broadcasting both analog and low power digital. On February 17, 2009, stations will stop broadcasting analog and will broadcast digital at full power.

Remember when you bought your first CD? There was no way to play it in your old cassette player. The same held true with DVDs; you couldn't play them in your VCR. The same is true with digital TV; older televisions, which can only receive analog broadcasts, won't be able to "play" digital broadcasts without some add-on equipment.

Why the switch to digital???

There's a number of reasons:

New features & benefits: DTV provides better picture & sound, including high-definition video (when watching on a HDTV). It can also allow for interactivity, electronic programming guides, and toggle-able languages & subtitles (like on DVDs); no stations have yet implemented these kinds of features, but they are possibilities for the future.
Saves "space": While the sky seems limitless, there's only so much "space" available for television to be broadcast in. Analog broadcasts take up more "space" than digital ones. By switching to digital, more stations can be broadcast using less "space". (An oversimplification, but you should get the idea.)
Freeing up analog airwaves: Once the DTV transition is complete, the old analog airwaves will be free. Some will be turned over to local fire & police departments for emergency communication. Others will be auctioned off to companies providing "new wireless services". Uncle Sam has to pay for those $40 coupons somehow!
Stimulate the economy: More than ever, consumers are running out to purchase new TVs. Those who aren't may decide to upgrade to cable or satellite.

What do I need to do?

If all of your TVs are connected to cable or satellite, you do not need to do anything. You will continue receiving broadcasts over cable/satellite as you always have.

For TVs that are NOT connected to cable or satellite and use an antenna:

If the television is a HDTV, you do not need to do anything. All HDTVs are ready to receive DTV.
If the television is a SDTV (not a HDTV), how old is it?
- Most SDTVs made within the last couple of years should be ready to receive DTV, but it will depend on the model. Check the instruction manual or the manufacturer's website to determine whether your TV is ready to receive DTV. Some commonly-used terms to look for are "Digital Ready/Capable", "DTV Ready/Capable", "HD Ready/Capable", & "ATSC". If you find that your TV IS ready to receive DTV, you don't need to do anything.
- Older SDTVs are not DTV capable.

If your TV is not DTV compatible, you can always replace it with a new TV or begin cable/satellite service. However, the most frugal option would be to purchase a converter box.

What is a converter box?

TVs that aren't able to receive DTV can be retrofitted with a converter box. Your antenna plugs into the converter box, and the box into your TV. This gadget converts the digital signal it receives from the antenna into an analog one, which it sends to your TV.

A couple of important points:

Once installed, you'll change channels through the converter box (NOT through the TV). So you'll need your TV's remote to power it on & adjust volume, but you'll use a 2nd remote (that comes with the converter box) to change channels. Those with remote-aphobia should look into universal/programmable remotes.
One converter box will convert ONE TV. If you have multiple TVs that are not DTV compatible, you'll need a converter box for each of them.

Applying for a converter box coupon

Converter boxes typically run $40-$70, not too cheap. Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, which allows US households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be used towards the purchase of a converter box. You must apply to receive these coupons, and the deadline to do so is Wednesday, December 31. You can apply online or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.

After applying, you should receive the coupon within 2-3 weeks; they expire 90 days after being mailed. Any stores that sell electronics should have the converter boxes for sale and will accept these coupons.

Conclusion

Ain't technology fun?!? If you have any questions or comments, please post them in the comments section below! There's also a lot of good information at DTV2009.GOV.

I've had a HDTV for nearly 3 years now, receiving DTV. While I think DTV is great, and I'm glad that it will finally become mainstream, I cannot claim that it's problem-free. In a future post, I'll talk about my experiences, including reception woes & other issues. And since HDTVs are more popular than ever before, I'll be going over some HD basics in another post. It will be an interesting ride, and hopefully the world will not cease to exist this coming February!

"Chuck" is about a nerd that becomes a spy...essentially my life story

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:50:00 GMT

In the television show Chuck, Charles "Chuck" Bartowski plays your typical 20-something computer-geek, stuck in a dead-end job at Buy More's Nerd Herd (a less-than-subtle parody of Best Buy's Geek Squad). He lives an uneventful life with his sister Ellie, until one day when he receives an email from his long-lost friend Bryce. Turns out Bryce is a rogue CIA agent, and his email contains an entire government database of top secret info, which embeds itself into Chuck's brain upon viewing.

Both the NSA and CIA want the intelligence returned to them and dispatch agents of their own - Major John Casey and Sarah Walker - to "retrieve" that data. When the original database is destroyed, Chuck has the only copy of that data, so he is forced to become a spy. Chuck's decision to keep his new-found occupation a secret from his family and friends, and to live his life as normally as possible, forces Casey and Walker to establish an uneasy alliance and secret identities (Walker poses as Chuck's girlfriend and takes a cover job at the local restaurant next to the Buy More while Casey gets a job at the Buy More), with the shared goal of protecting Chuck at all costs.

Seeing specific people/things causes Chuck to "flash", subliminally retrieving data about the person/object from the government database in his mind. Chuck uses this ability to help John & Sarah thwart evildoers and save the entire world from impending doom.

Sarah is an incredibly attractive female spy, and as they continue their "fake" relationship Chuck's feelings for her become real. There is lots of romantic tension, often mocked by smart-aleck comments by John (portrayed by Adam Baldwin, of Full Metal Jacket & Firefly/Serentity fame).

This show is brilliant, tied with The Office as my favorite current TV show. The cast is excellent, with real chemistry. The plots, while far-fetched, are extremely well-thought out, always resulting in hilarity and the unexpected. And the emotion evoked by the tension between Chuck & Sarah (not helped by Ellie's constant "I'm so happy you finally found a girlfriend" remarks), his belief that Sarah is way out of his nerd-league, the experiences with his ex-girlfriend (who re-appears in season 2), and his quest for more (a normal life and better job, for starters) creates endearing, genuine characters.

Season 1 was released on DVD & Blu-ray a couple months ago, and season 2 (which is even better than season 1) is currently airing on Monday nights at 7pm on NBC. It's a show you really need to watch in order, so check out the season 1 DVDs, catch up on the previous season 2 episodes at NBC.com, and watch the latest episode every Monday night!

More Information

EVPL Catalog: Check on the availability of Chuck: The Complete First Season on DVD at EVPL libraries.
NBC.com: Official website of Chuck. Find out more about the show, and watch full episodes from season 2!
Amazon: Buy Chuck: The Complete First Season on DVD or Blu-ray using these links, and the Public Library Friends will receive a portion of your purchase!