Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. Sign-ups have started for our summer library programs, which begin in June.  Call or stop by the library and talk to our youth services librarian, Andrea Weidenhaft, for more information.  I’ve got some reviews of new-to-the library video games for the next few weeks.

Not all video games require great skill with a controller. The Nintendo Wii video game console is controlled by a simple remote wand and only two or three buttons at a time. This means people of almost any age can play a Wii game and have fun. If you’re new to Wii gaming, or want something simple to play with friends and family or at a party, try Country Dance Wii. The player needs only the Wii remote for the game to track dance moves.

The dance moves are fairly simple to imitate with the help of an on-screen silhouette, and the player can enjoy many contemporary popular country hits. Many reviews of the game say it is fun to play with kids, and that even the least experienced dancers can follow the choreography. And, the player gets the added benefit of a light workout while having fun!

Some songs included are: Achy Breaky by Billy Ray Cyrus, Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson, Why Don’t We Just Dance by Josh Turner, Cowboy Casanova by Carrie Underwood, Water by Brad Paisley, Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland, Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash, and 19 other well-known tunes. There is a second volume to this series that the library has not purchased yet, so if you’re having fun but want a few more songs to dance to, ask the library about requesting it through inter-library loan. And don’t forget you can return video games in the media side of our book drop, located on the outside front of the building, to the western end.

You can get the video game reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus.  Just come down the drive and look for the old limestone and wood sign, close to the ground.  This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Country Dance Wii published by GameMill Entertainment
1 disc
Wii Video Games

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.  Sign-ups have started for our summer library programs, which begin in June.  Call or stop by the library and talk to our youth services librarian, Andrea Weidenhaft, for more information.  I’ve got some reviews of new-to-the library video games for the next few weeks.

Regular readers know books can transport one to other worlds.  Long-time video game players know that not only can a video game transport the player, but that player also can make decisions that impact the story.  Video games where the player can impact the story lines are called role-playing games, and a new title available at the Port Library is Fallout: New Vegas.  This is the fourth installment in a series of games set almost 250 years into a post-apocalyptic future.  Your character is simply known as the Courier.

The Courier has been set with the task of delivering a package across the Mojave Desert to what is left of Las Vegas, now known as “the strip.”  However, before the Courier can complete the job, he is ambushed, robbed, and left for dead.  Stopping the game here would make it about 10 minutes long, so the gameplay continues as the Courier is rescued by a friendly robot and nursed back to health.  It is here the player, playing as the Courier, starts the mission to retrieve the precious package for delivery, meanwhile fighting off various militant groups, armies, and a version of the mob all vying for control in the region. The player’s decisions during the game do affect the outcome; one of four general endings is possible.

Because of the setting and gameplay, this game is recommended for older teenagers or adult patrons of the Port Library.  And don’t forget you can return video games in the media side of our book drop, located on the outside front of the building, to the western end.

You can get the video game reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Fallout: New Vegas published by Bethesda 
1 disc
Xbox360 Video Games

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.   We’re gearing up for our summer library programs, starting in June.  If you’re interested, call the library or stop by and talk to Andrea Weidenhaft, our youth services librarian.  I’ve got a new-to-the library DVD review for this week.

New York, I Love You is a feature film from 2009 that follows a bit of a different format. Ten different screenwriters and directors have written ten vignettes set in New York City, all on the theme of love. There is a videographer character who connects all the separate stories. Many contemporary stars participated in this film, including Bradley Cooper, Shia LeBeouf, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Cloris Leachman, Ethan Hawke, and more. The first vignette starts off with a pickpocket who meets his match both professionally and romantically, but the overarching story takes off from there to feature a young Hasidic bride, an Indian businessman, writers, artists, young people going to prom, children and parents, and one couple celebrating an anniversary long in coming. With this movie, if you aren’t sure you like the plot, wait 15 minutes and it will change!

This film comes in as the second in a planned franchise called Cities of Love. It started in 2006 with Paris, je t’aime. (or Paris, I Love You). Paris, je t’aime featured 18 interwoven stories by 22 directors. The producer of the Paris and New York movies plans more in Shanghai, Rio, Jerusalem, Venice, Berlin, and New Orleans. Because each film is the combined effort of so many screenwriters, directors, and actors, production or release of future films is not yet known. However, New York, I Love You is available at the library now! And don’t forget you can return DVDs in the media side of our book drop, located on the outside front of the building, to the western end.

You can get the DVD reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

New York, I Love You (DVD)
1 disc, 110 min.
DVD collection.

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.  I’ve got some new-to-the library DVD reviews for the next few weeks.

Many of my listeners will know who Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour are.  For the younger set, the aforementioned people were actors, comedians, singers, and dancers in the 1930s through 1970s.  Their talent is still well worth checking out.  This week’s review is of a movie titled Road to Bali, and features all three actors.  There were seven movies starring these three, and all seven films started with the words “Road to…”  You can think of them as the Scary Movie franchise of its day.  The “Road to…” movies lampooned popular contemporary films with songs, dances, guest stars, and zany adventures.  Road to Bali was the only one of the series to be filmed in color, and is perhaps the most famous.

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby star as George Cochran and Harold Gridley, two song-and-dance men working in Melbourne, Australia.  To avoid following through with several misguided marriage proposals, the two sign on as deep sea divers and find themselves sailing for the island Bali.  However, on the way they stop at an idyllic (unnamed) island and attract the attentions of the lovely Princess Lala, played by Dorothy Lamour.  Both men fall in love with the island princess, and vie for her attentions by diving to recover a sunken chest of jewels.  Once surfaced the jewels attract the unwanted attention of other locals, and the men find they have quite a mess to get out of, on the road (or in this case, sea) to Bali.

Don’t forget you can return DVDs in the media side of our book drop, located on the outside front of the building, to the western end.

You can get the DVD reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Road to Bali (DVD), Osiris Entertainment 
91 minutes
DVD collection