Thursday's Picks (9)

Here we go again, folks! Time for Thursday's Picks, my weekly feature where I tell you guys the best new movies, DVDs and books to look for in the next week. Anyone can play along! Just grab a button from my sidebar and post what you're excited to see premier next week. Comment on this post with a link so I can see your picks!

This Week's Movie Pick:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part IRelease Date: November 19, 2010
Rated PG-13 (Warner Bros.)
Starring Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman


Summary (Courtesy of IMDB):

Voldemort's power is growing stronger. He now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. But little hope remains for the Trio, and the rest of the Wizarding World, so everything they do must go as planned.

I have always dug the Harry Potter films (in spite of the fact that they weren't perfect translations of the books), and this one really looks amazing. I have already seen a couple of discrepancies from the book in the trailers, but it's okay. I don't expect books to translate perfectly into film, as no one should. I'm really excited regardless. I'll be live tweeting the pre-show madness for the midnight release if anyone is interested in following. I may even post a review...


This Week's Book Pick:
Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love
A Short Story Compilation (Multiple Authors)
Release Date: November 16, 2010
Simon and Schuster Publishing

Summary (Courtesy of Barnes and Noble):

IN this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate. 

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.

International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.

New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.

Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.

I love a hopelessly romantic love story as much as the next girl, so a book full of hopelessly romantic love stories is definitely on my list. I can see myself curled up in a blanket with a box of tissues and some candy for this one.

This Week's DVD Pick:
Best Worst Movie
Release Date: November 16, 2010
Unrated Documentary (Magic Stone Productions)
Starring Michael Stephenson, George Hardy, Darren Ewing, Jason Steadman and Jason Wright


Summary (Courtesy of Moviefone):

Is 'Troll 2' really the worst movie ever made as claimed by IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes? Or is 'Troll 2,' as some would claim, a misunderstood masterpiece that never fails to entertain... a work of genius. Twenty years after 'Troll 2' was made, the feature length documentary 'Best Worst Movie' explores the phenomenon that is 'Troll 2' through the personal story of the cast of characters that took part in its creation and why it is celebrated by fans worldwide.

In the summer of 1989, Italian director Claudio Fragrasso cast small-town dentist Dr. George Hardy and a group of unwitting Utah actors in an ultra-low budget horror film, which eventually became the undisputed Worst Movie in History. Soon after 'Troll 2's initial release, Dr. Hardy decided he was better-suited battling tooth decay than goblins. He retired from acting and returned to dentistry in his hometown of Alabama unaware of the legions of fans that would one day recognize him as a cult movie luminary.

Nearly 20 years later, Dr. Hardy finds his days of drilling cavities are met by nights of signing hundreds of autographs at record-setting revival screenings throughout the world. Unlikely byproducts celebrating the 'Best Worst Movie' include fan sites, music videos, dress-up dinner parties and even homage in one of the most successful video games, Sony PlayStation’s Guitar Hero 2.

Drawing on his experiences reconnecting with the 'Troll 2' family, director Michael Paul Stephenson reveals the improbable heartfelt story of an Alabama dentist-turned-cult movie icon and an Italian filmmaker as they both come to terms with this internationally revered cinematic failure. The result is a hilarious and tender off-beat journey and a genuine homage to lovers of bad movies and the people that create them.

 Tell me this doesn't sound like a really fun documentary. I love cheesy horror films. B-movies make me super happy. So a documentary about how awesome such a film truly is probably will make me super duper happy. Plus, it will be super funny. Win!