DVD Review - The Master (2012)

Paul Thomas Anderson, director of There Will Be Blood and Magnolia gave us a remarkable film in 2012 called The Master. Based loosely on the life of L. Ron Hubbard, creator of Scientology, The Master follows the story of a young war veteran, Freddie Quell, suffering from post-traumatic stress who stows away on the boat of Lancaster Dodd, founder of a religious group called The Cause. Freddie, as well as being a sufferer of post-traumatic stress disorder is an alcoholic sex-addict and concocts his own ‘potions’ out of domestic items such as paint thinner or fuel. Dodd samples some of his moonshine and says he will help him for more alcohol in return.

Lancaster sees something in Freddie he is very fond of and Freddie feels the same way in return, so Freddie joins Lancaster and his followers on their trip along the east coast of America as they spread the word of The Cause. An unfortunate altercation lands Freddie and Lancaster in prison and soon after The Cause and Freddie’s worlds fall apart. A powerful, emotional and supremely unique film about a broken war veteran’s struggle with regaining control of his own mind. The subjective undertones of brainwashing and nonsensical teachings plays favour to those doubtful of Lancaster’s methods similar to those of Hubbard in recent times. The end result will leaving you questioning who ‘The Master’ really is…

Amongst others, The Master was nominated for various Academy Awards including best actor for Joaquin Phoenix as Freddie Quell, best supporting actor for Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Lancaster Dodd and best supporting actress for Amy Adams as Dodd’s wife, Peggy.  All deservedly so, Phoenix is breath taking as the crippled Freddie and his breakdowns are heart wrenchingly pure, similarly the raw power and authority of Lancaster will send shivers down your spine.

It’s certainly a difficult watch and will require a fair amount of concentration to follow as the narrative and editing is at first a little jarring, but allow yourself to be swept up in the masterful cinematography and beauty of 70mm film as it fills your television screens. Wholly immersive, intellectually challenging and above all sublimely acted, it’s definitely worth a go.

 

Further Reading in the Information Store:

The Master – DVD ZONE – 791.43 M

Counselling for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – BOOK ZONE – 361.06

The Secrets of Scientology (DVD)  – BOOK ZONE – 299.936

Magnolia - DVD ZONE - 791.43 M

There Will Be Blood - DVD ZONE - 791.43 T

DVD Review - Argo (2012)

Conquering this year’s Academy Awards was Ben Affleck’s directorial masterpiece Argo. Based on the true, relatively unknown story of Tony Mendez, whose ludicrous plan to save six American citizens from a life threatening situation in Iran was only recently declassified by CIA officials allowing Mendez to finally tell his remarkable story.

In 1980, the American embassy in Iran was stormed by Iranian protesters and activists, while many US citizens were captured and held hostage in the embassy, six of them escaped and sought refuge in the home of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor. Upon hearing of this crisis and the news of six escapees who will be hunted down by Iranians and killed, CIA agent Tony Mendez (played by Ben Affleck) devises a plan to get them back to the USA safely. However, Iranians everywhere are aware of these six people and there would be no way they could just walk onto a plane to fly home, Mendez had to think of something smarter to get the American’s back without being seen…

He comes up with the ingenious and crazy idea of staging a science fiction film shoot which involves sending six Canadians to Iran to scout for locations. Under this ruse, Tony Mendez should be able to sneak the Americans out as Canadians, but there are plenty of armed guards and officials at airport security who are keeping a watchful eye out for the American’s that escaped from the embassy.  With the prospect of a brutal execution if they are found out, you will find yourself gripping your seat during the final airport scene, but will they make it?

With John Goodman , Alan Arkin and Brian Cranston in supporting roles, offering moments of comic relief and Ben Affleck in the leading role and at the director’s helm it is really no wonder Argo was one the of best films of 2012 and won countless awards all ove the world.

Why not borrow it for the half term week?

Further Reading in the Information Store:

Argo – DVD ZONE – 791.43 A

Iran – BOOK ZONE – 915.60

Iran and the Bomb – BOOK ZONE – 327.1

Come in and grab a free book!

The Information Store is launching its new Book Exchange today as part of Adult Learners Week. Come in and grab a free book from the cupboard behind the printers. Take home any book where you see the Book Exchange logo (it will be on the front or back cover). All we ask is that once you have read it, you pass it on, either to friends or family or back to us for the next person. Happy reading!

Revision, revision, revision

If you're revising, or about to start revising, read on.

We have a huge selection of revision guides available to borrow, from books that show you how to study, to books on specific subjects. Pop in and have a look at our revision display to get you started and help keep you motivated and de-stressed:

We are also putting daily revision tips on Facebook and Twitter, so spend your time wisely on these sites to help stay in touch.

Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccninformationstore

Our Twitter page is https://twitter.com/CCNInfoStore

Follow us for more hints and tips, and #ccnrevision to stay up to date.

Best of luck everyone!

DVD Review - Star Trek (2009)

This week sees in the release of one of this summer’s most highly anticipated blockbusters. That’s right, Star Trek: Into Darkness is coming.  If you’ve been watching trailers of exploding spaceships and Benedict Cumberbatch looking menacing  and have been wondering what the fuss is all about, wonder no more and borrow the first Star Trek film right here from the Information Store!

You might want to read ahead first though…

Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Trek is a visual masterpiece with an exciting story and relatable characters. The source material is vast, so it was always going to be a decent effort at re-launching it back into the moviesphere.  The television series has been dominating screens for decades and William Shatner has always been Captain Kirk in our hearts, but Star Trek offers something new, young, fresh and exciting to a franchise that has spawned eleven films, a vast fan base of ‘Trekkies’ and been the subject of many a sci-fi related argument for years. 

Chris Pine plays our heroic James T Kirk in this reimagining and while adopting mannerisms of Shatner he stills brings some fresh, cheese free imperturbability, revitalising dusty old Kirk into a good-looking and charming hero with a few bad boy tendencies. His story begins as he is being born while his father simultaneously crashes into a mysterious time-travelling vessel searching the galaxy for Spock, we spring forwards in time to see him getting into trouble with the law and causing fights in bars. Following one such dispute, Kirk is forbidden aboard the USS Enterprise as it takes the other cadets on a mission to help a suffering planet Vulcan. However, with some quick thinking from a fellow cadet, Kirk becomes sick and manages to wangle his way onto the ship with his ‘Doctor’. He is hurtled into an intergalactic warzone full of time travel, menacing over lords and Spock’s extended family.

Eric Bana plays the villainous Nero, a Romulan who is searching the galaxy for Spock and destroying anyone and anything that gets in his way including Spocks home planet. Similar in manner to a Pirate, the Romulan style is slightly unconventional, one of the many things that J.J Abrams adapted to bring the series up to date.  Bana is the perfect hero , he is menacing, wilful and full of vengeance which culminates in a classic battle between goodies and baddies the old fashioned way.

The next film sees home grown talent Benedict Cumberbatch playing the villain, Khan, who attacks the Starfleet from the inside and brings Kirk’s world crashing down around him. So far it has received incredible reviews and is set to smash the box office this weekend as Iron Man 3 did a few weeks ago. It’s a summer of big blockbusters and with Man of Steel still to be released, I think our wallets are going to be taking a bit of a hit!

Further reading in the Information Store:

You can find STAR TREK in the DVD ZONE shelved at 791.43S

Fans, Bloggers & Gamers: Exploring Participatory Culture by Henry Jenkins is available as an e-book. Ask at the issue desk if you need any help accessing this!

Science Fiction Cinema: Between Fantasy and Reality by Christine Cornea – BOOK ZONE – Shelved at 791.436 COR

Write Your Own Science Fiction Stories by Tish Farrell – BOOK ZONE – Shelved at 808.02 FER