To judge by the number of things turning 100 years old this year, 1912 must have been a very exciting year. By now you all know that CPL opened its first branch that year, and one hundred years later we are still vibrant, relevant and growing! The Calgary Stampede started that same year as did Calgary Parks and Recreation. The Grey Cup also celebrates its 100th this year and Calgary has sadly only won it 6 times- 1948,1971,1992,1998, 2001 and 2008 (along with being a rabid movie lover, I also am crazy about my Stamps, and I remain eternally optimistic). It is 100 years since the sinking of the unsinkable Titanic and CPL has 6 different DVD's on the topic. Oreos, Life Savers and zippers also share this birthday.

Of interest to Movie Maniacs, this is also the 100th birthday of Paramount Studios. It would be a daunting task to try to list all of the accomplishments in the studio's 100 year history, and even a smaller glimpse is formidable. There are many sites devoted to the birthday but one that is very appealing is the official Vanity Fair photo. Follow this link to see the 116 stars that posed for this shoot. I had great fun trying to name the stars- hover anywhere over a person's picture and it allows you to zoom in and get the name. Enjoy.

ALL THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED

CHECK IN REGULARLY TO MOVIE MANIACS- TICKETS COME FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE

Movie Maniacs has teamed up again with Alliance Films and is pleased to invite you and a guest to the Calgary advance screening of Lawless. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce and Gary Oldman.

To get your free double passes:

1) Visit the Alliance Films website

2) ENTER OR COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING PIN CODE: BOOTLEG2YYC

3) Print your pass and bring to box office and redeem for your actual admission ticket

Drop me a line through comments if you get to see this one...

It's that time of the year again when many of us start searching the catalogue to place holds on favorite DVDs newly acquired by the library. Here's a short reminder list about the mystery and other series in now and available soon:

• Lewis, Series 5
• George Gently, Series 3
• Doc Martin Series 5
• Dexter, Complete 6th Season, on order (place your hold now)
• Weeds, Season 8, and Wallander (featuring Kenneth Branagh): eagerly awaiting these!

Any series we've missed? Add your comments...

I should be using the time to catch up on all the sleep I missed during the Olympics- I can't tell you how many mornings I was up to watch events live at 6:30 in the morning- and yes, I would also watch it again in the evening. Told you I am a bit of an Olympic junkie! But now, I seem to have hours of extra time on my hands, and although I do have cleaning up to do in my yard after Sunday's incredible hail storm, I am somewhat at sixes and sevens for movies. So I pulled out several of my fave book resources (yes, I DO actually read) and now happily direct your attention to the following:

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2012-- My fave reviewer- the man's output is staggering!

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- This one is a lot of fun---I surprised myself with how many of them I have seen- how about you?

Leonard Maltin's 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen- this one is also fun, and a fair bit more obscure

Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2012

Time again for Crowfoot's monthly movie night on Thursday the 16th. Join us for this PG rated movie --- as always call us at 221-4122 to find out what the title is---you won't be disappointed. This is a great way to beat that holds list and see it sooner rather than later! Movie starts sharp at 6:30 and runs 106 minutes. Remember to bring your own treats!

Okay movie lovers, the tickets are now available to claim from GoFoBo for the avdanced screening of RUBY SPARKS. Hopefully you have your account set up and your password ready. If so log on now and request one or two tickets to this event. We've made it easier--- you don't even need an rsvp code this time.The password that they are asking for is YOUR own that you used to create your account. You will see our Movie Maniac Logo and your tickets are a few clicks away! They will be sent to your computer where you can print them off. If you do not have an account yet simply follow the steps in "create an account" found on the above link.

We have quite a few tickets available, but once they are all claimed, that's it. If you find yourself unable to use them after you have claimed them, pass them on to someone else---names are not checked. Can't find anybody? Just go back on to your account and 'release' the tickets for somebody else to use. If you make it to the movie I would love to hear from you- just drop me a line through comments at the top of any MM post. Enjoy!

Okay MM readers, this isn't the contest I have been promising you for Ruby Sparks tickets (see below), but check out the contest that the Teen Blog has put together for our younger demographic. If you are a teen, or have one in your life, or even know one for that matter, direct them here to enter for a chance to win this prize:

ONE GRAND PRIZE

• Cineplex ROE passes (two admissions) for Step Up Revolution
• StreetDance 2 DVD
• Step Up Revolution ear buds
• Step Up Revolution sunglasses

FOUR RUNNER-UP PRIZES

• Cineplex ROE passes (two admissions) for Step Up Revolution
• Step Up Revolution sunglasses

And as for RUBY SPARKS- they finally have a venue for the advanced screening and I will be releasing RSVP codes any time now. Likely on Wednesday August 1st. Thanks for hanging in there!!!

You might want to revisit this classic as a sort of antidote to Mad Men. Originally, scenes were cut from A Streetcar Named Desire due to censorship but Elia Kazan's full director's cut starring Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh is available at the library. There is a great production on Broadway now starring Blair Underwood as Stanley Kowalski. Now that I've lured you in with the good looks, here's a dose of reality...

In spite of all the parodies and over-quoted lines ("Stella!," "...the kindess of strangers") Streetcar is still a relevant and shocking stage play. Older sister Blanche is traumatized and manipulative, turning to an extreme femininity and aristocratic airs to make her way through life. On the other extreme, her sister's husband Stanley performs a stereotype of angry working-class masculinity. Blanche's sister, Stanley's wife, is caught between her duty to Blanche and her desire for Stanley, making the uncensored play not just about madness, as was often argued, but about dependence and the connection between restrictive gender roles and violence.

I have to admit - I'm a bit of an Olympic junkie. There's just something very appealing about the entire world coming together to compete in fair minded play and to celebrate the efforts of all these hard working incredible athletes. Now having said that, we know that the reality often falls far short of the ideal; but for every doper trying to beat the system there are still hundreds of athletes playing their guts out for the love of their sport and country and these are the competitors that draw me back year after year.

If you are not watching the Olympics (CTV) (NBC) which start tomorrow, do the next best thing and watch a movie about the Olympics. Multi award winner Chariots of Fire is certainly worth your time and features the haunting score by Vangelis.

CPL has a great many titles that are not necessarily about the Olympics, but sports movies, and it is quite a mixed bag. Some of my faves are Invictus, Million Dollar Baby, The Natural, Bend It Like Beckham, Field of Dreams, and Iqbal. Or spend some time with The Flying Scotsman- you won't be disappointed. When We Were Kings is a compelling documentary of the 1974 heavyweight championship bout in Zaire between then champion George Foreman and underdog challenger Muhammad Ali. Not my cup of tea, but it did win cutey-pie Sandra Bullock an Oscar---The Blind Side. Or from this year, Money Ball with Brad Pitt in his Oscar nominated performance. And even though the franchise did go steadily downhill afterward, there is no denying the original Rocky is still one of the best sports movies ever made. Try any of these: Pride of the Yankees, Eight Men Out, Raging Bull, Brian's Song (have the hankies ready), Remember the Titans and the original The Longest Yard. You will barely recognize Batman (Christian Bale) in The Fighter, more cautionary tale than true sports movie, but very good. Warrior earned Nick Nolte an Oscar nod for best supporting actor this year. The Wrestler helped resurrect Mickey Rourke's career and is a gut wrenching look behind the scenes of the wrestling world, just as Requiem for a Heavyweight looks at the underbelly of boxing.

There are numerous movies about equestrian sports and many more about golf. But I just can't bring myself to watch a golf movie- it's almost as boring as watching a golf game (with apologies to all you golfers).

For the younger crowd there is Ice Princess, Air Bud (at least 5 different ones), Sandlot, Space Jam, Bad News Bears (original only) and any of the Karate Kids- new or old.

Teens: Stick It, Rudy, and Whip It

Series: Friday Night Lights- we have all five seasons

Funny: It's been quite awhile since I've seen it but have a look at Cool Runnings- the story of the Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Or Nacho Libre---Jack Black's take on Luchadors (Mexican wrestlers), and Will Ferrell in Taladega Nights and Blades of Glory.

The opening ceremonies are being produced by Danny Boyle, who you will know from such films as Slum Dog Millionaire, Trainspotting, The Beach, Millions and 127 hours. They held a dress rehearsal on Monday night and the word is ' unlike anything you have ever seen before'. I was dazzled by the Vancouver opening ceremonies in 2010 so am eager to see what Boyle has in store for the 80,000 in the stadium and the 100's of millions out here in tv land.

Let the games begin.........................

Fans of the city must see Bill Cunningham New York. Richard Press' documentary is for artists, documentary lovers and fans of street fashion. It follows the New York Times photographer to his Carnegie Hall studio and on the street as he shoots people whose style he admires. Cunningham invented the street fashion genre in the 70s when he added shots he had taken of women on the street to snap of reclusive Greta Garbo to a Times article that became a regular feature.

If you liked The September Issue, you'll still like this film but it's very different in tone. Cunningham's principled and democratic approach to shooting fashion as he rides around Manhattan on his bike well into his 80s is the focus. Cunningham only cared for clothes and style, whether worn by a bag lady or Lady Astor. The interviews with those who encounter him are loving and honest, not simply the type of quips you hear repeatedly on the weekly fashion shows. There's a tender glimpse into an old style of production for the paper.

Cunningham's opening remarks are never truer--the people on the streets of New York are really the most interesting aspect of the city.