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Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbookby Isa Chandra Moskowitz When I first bought Veganomicon, I had high hopes of giving up meat, eating clean, and finally learning the difference between shallots, scallions, and green onions. Written by two well-known Vegan chefs, Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, Veganomicon was touted as an all-encompassing guidebook for beginners and seasoned vegans alike. While my commitment to the vegan lifestyle quickly faded (I moved to the South soon after, and have you tried the pulled pork at I don’t know, any restaurant?), there are many recipes in this book that are still family favorites. Like many of us during the lockdown, I found myself facing the age-old question of what to make for dinner more often than normal. Once again I turned to this book, not to give up meat, but to add more vegetables to my diet. What I discovered was even more incredible dishes that have already become staples in our home. First of all, any preconceived notions about hoity-toity health-food chefs will be obliterated as soon as you read the introduction by Moskowitz and Romero. Though they are vegan, they have a sense of humor. Pop culture and movie references abound from the how-to guides to the recipe headings. If you are looking for a lifestyle change, Veganomicon is one of the handbooks you'll want at your side. The authors are with you every step of the way with helpful sections on how to purchase, store, and cook grains, beans, and vegetables. The recipes offer much more than eggplant parmesan or risotto, although I'm sure their versions are delicious. If meat-alternative products are a turn-off for you, let me tell you—it’s very easy to skip the chapter featuring tofu, seitan, and tempeh. Furthermore, and at the risk of committing full-on blasphemy, you can even add meat to some dishes. I havpoe added shrimp and chicken to Pasta della California, and chicken strips to Pasta e Fagioli to great success. If you're like me and are just looking for some new ways to eat more vegetables, I still wholeheartedly recommend this book. Try the Sautéed Spinach and Tomatoes, Chickpeas Romesco, or Spaghetti Squash Mexicana. They are easy to prepare and the abundance of flavors will floor your taste buds. Fair warning though—these recipes will have you craving more helpings for days to come. Katie
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Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cookingby Samin Nosrat Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat is not a new book; it has won many awards and spent countless weeks on bestseller lists. I have given it as a gift and it was on my top nonfiction list of the decade. I am not a cook, and I haven’t tried to make any of the recipes in this book but to think about cooking (which i have done quite a bit over the last few months) is to think about this book. I think the art by Wendy MacNaughton was what caught my attention first. I also really admire the work of Michael Pollan (author of The Omnivore's Dilemma), who wrote the foreword. I picked Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat up not expecting to read the entire thing straight through, but the clean, no muss phrasing and the engaging illustration drew me in, and once I started I just couldn’t stop. I already knew many of the big details, and had an appreciation for salt in the cooking process but the more I read the more I appreciated all levels of cooking, and I ended up feeling empowered to try some cooking myself from the moment I read the first sentence, “Anyone can cook anything and make it delicious.” I spent almost twenty years in the restaurant business, where I learned a great deal about food. Specifically, I came to enjoy flavors and fresh, local ingredients. One chef I worked for would talk about "letting quality ingredients speak for themselves,” this is what Nosrat does with her book. She simplifies the four elements of great cooking and makes them accessible and approachable for all. If you are looking to discover new flavors and techniques or you are looking to reconsider the basics, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is the book for you. I got my copy on Overdrive. While you are waiting, feel free to check out our other great collections on hoopla and Kanopy where there is no wait for hundreds of great cooking titles. If you find something in the Great Courses on Kanopy, these borrows do not count toward your monthly checkout limit. Vanessa
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Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple’s recently released sixth album, is a percussive and raw collection of songs that feel personal and organic. Her lyrics are both metaphor-rich and bracingly direct, as she captures scenes of pain and images of living in spite of it. There’s a confrontationally unpolished quality to many of the songs. Pots, pans, and boxes of bones are used for percussion; pianos are played for force and rhythm more than for melody as barking dogs and missed notes are left in the finished product, giving the listener a sense of the recording environment as part of the performance. Songs loop and change abruptly, like the chanted “Relay” where the repeated chant of the chorus builds around percussive and vocal layers before breaking into a martial verse that catalogues a series of resentments. One major theme on the album is Apple’s relationships to other women. The first single “Shameika” is about surviving bullying as a child and the minor rituals and personal relationships that make such an experience more bearable. “She got through to me and I’ll never see her again,” Apple sings of Shameika who “said I had potential” despite the cruelties of childhood. On “Newspaper” she sings, “I wonder what lies he’s telling you about me/to make sure that we’ll never be friends,” to the partner of an ex. “Ladies” addresses the women on the different sides of an affair, examining how guilt is a matter of perception. “For Her” deals frankly with sexual abuse and relationships gone sour. Alongside those songs, there’s a promise of something beyond a darkened present tense. The title track plays like a statement of purpose and a story of the artist so far as Apple recounts scenes from her life of teenage success over booming upright bass and clattering percussion. “Heavy Balloon,” a song about living with depression, capturing the experience in the indelible image of the title and the portraits of endurance in the chorus. When the album closes on the percussive chant “On I Go,” Apple creates the feeling of a ritual release. Change and motion are the only laws of life, she suggests; to “only move to move” can be a defiant strength. Fetch the Bolt Cutters is available on Freegal. Joseph
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The Sound and the Furyby William FaulknerMany people have been taking this time to tackle big books and classics that they've been meaning to read, but haven't gotten around to. For me, that means reading The Sound and the Fury, which I've been told many times to read, especially base on my love for another William Faulkner classic, As I Lay Dying. The Compson family is well on its way to total ruin by the time we meet them on Good Friday in 1928. Through the fragmented and disjointed perspectives of the three Compson brothers, Benji, Quentin and Jason, we learn why, and the book wraps up by following Dilsey, the family's long-suffering African American servant, on Easter Sunday. Although the Compson men are put in the spotlight, it's the woman who isn't seen--their sister, Caddy--who drives the impulsion of the entire novel, and steers all three forward (or backward, or sideways), for better or for worse. Reading such a notoriously difficult book anchored me during the early days of the library's closure; it provided distraction and forced focus, for which I was desperate. It gave structure to my days, and I loved it. The Sound and the Fury isn't written to be an easy read, but it is a truly incredible study of writing memory; today, memories are written as fully extant stories, but in realities, our memories come and go in snippets of smells and tastes and light. Faulkner captures the shackles of memory like no other author, and here in The Sound and the Fury, his skills as one of the greatest American writers are on full display. Jess
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Finding NeverlandThis charming account of a period in the life of author J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) reveals the real relationships and events that served as the basis for the author's most iconic work, Peter Pan. After Barrie develops a platonic relationship with the widowed Sylvia (Kate Winslet) and her four sons, he is inspired to write a play about a group of children who don't want to grow up. The work proves a hit and winds up bringing Barrie and the children together in a way he had never expected.
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Are We There Yet?Attempting to win the favor of the newly divorced Suzanne (Nia Long), Nick (Ice Cube) offers to accompany her children, Lindsey (Aleisha Allen) and Kevin (Philip Bolden), on a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Canada to see their mother. A mishap with a corkscrew and a metal detector gets the troupe banned from the flight, however, so Nick is forced to drive the kids in his prized Lincoln Navigator. Tensions inevitably rise during the long road trip, but Nick is not to be deterred.
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Ella EnchantedAs a baby, Ella (Anne Hathaway) receives a visit from Lucinda (Vivica A. Fox), her fairy godmother, and is bestowed with a magical talent that requires her to obey anything that she is told to do. This proves to be more of a curse than a blessing, particularly once her mother dies and she is forced to live with the cruel Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley). Eventually, Ella embarks on a journey to find Lucinda and break the spell, accompanied by the handsome Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy).
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Magic of Belle IsleA retired and disabled writer moves to a remote village in an effort to regain his strength and passion for words. He soon meets a single mother with three children, and with their help and inspiration he rejuvenates his life and work.
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RadioIn a racially divided town, coach Jones (Ed Harris) spots a mentally disabled African-American student named Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.) near his practice field and is inspired to befriend him. Soon, Radio is Jones' loyal assistant, and principal Daniels (Alfre Woodard) happily notes that Radio's self-confidence is skyrocketing. But things start to sour when Jones begins taking guff from fans who feel that his devotion to Radio is getting in the way of the team's quest for a championship.
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Mental Health Awareness Month
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When Chuck Mullin began experiencing anxiety and depression as a teenager, she started drawing comics to help her make sense of the rollercoaster. Eventually, she found that pigeons—lovably quirky, yet universally reviled creatures—were the ideal subjects of a comic about mental illness. Organized in three sections—"Bad Times," "Relationships," and "Positivity"—and featuring several short essays about the author’s experiences, Bird Brain is a highly relatable, chuckle-inducing, and ultimately uplifting collection of comics for anyone who has struggled to maintain their mental health.Find it on hoopla.
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In a story depicted in oil painted animation, a young man comes to the last hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist's final letter and ends up investigating the artist's final days.
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Good Will HuntingWill Hunting (Matt Damon) has a genius-level IQ but chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. When he solves a difficult graduate-level math problem, his talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård), who decides to help the misguided youth reach his potential. When Will is arrested for attacking a police officer, Professor Lambeau makes a deal to get leniency for him if he will get treatment from therapist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams).
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Jane Eyreby Charlotte BrontëIn early nineteenth-century England, an orphaned young woman accepts employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall, a country estate owned by the mysteriously remote Mr. Rochester.
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Reasons to Stay Aliveby Matt HaigIn a moving and entirely relatable account, an internationally best-selling author shares his struggle with depression and, helping those who are confused or daunted by the illness, reveals how he was able to triumph over the disease on order to live again.
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The Strange Bird: a Borne storyby Jeff VanderMeerBuilt in a laboratory, a creature that is part bird, part human and part other things endures the betrayal of its scientist designers and escapes into a world of hostile wildlife and the technological detritus of a civilization in decline before finding itself in the company of a collapsed biotech firm's successful and failed experiments.
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The Golem and the Jinniby Helene WeckerCombining elements of Jewish and Arab folk mythology, this stunning debut novel tells the story of two supernatural creatures, Chava, a golem brought to life by a disgraced rabbi, and Ahmad, a jinni made of fire, who form an unlikely friendship on the streets of New York until a fateful choice changes everything. Seth says: My favorite thing in this book the atmosphere. It takes place in 1900 New York City and Wecker uses this unique time in history where immigration into the US was at an all-time high to delve into two very different cultures through the eyes of two creatures that are immigrants to all of humanity.
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The City of Brassby S. A. ChakrabortyA young con artist of unsurpassed talent inadvertently summons a mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, revealing the existence of true magic before the future of a magical Middle Eastern kingdom falls into her hands. Seth says: An unlikely heroine, a city of magical jinnis, political intrigue, romance, fighting: this book has it all.
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Spinning Silverby Naomi NovikDeciding to collect on the outstanding debts owed her family of moneylenders, a young woman is overheard boasting about being able to turn silver into gold by the creatures who haunt the wood, in this reimagining of the Rumpelstiltskin story. Seth says: In this book Novik re-tells the story Rumpelstiltskin with some significant twists. It sounds strange, but one of my favorite things about this book is how Novik describes the weather. More than once I actually felt cold when I was reading, and when you can feel what an author’s describing you know they’re good.
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The Bear and the Nightingaleby Katherine ArdenA debut novel inspired by Russian fairy tales follows the experiences of a wild young girl who taps the mysterious powers of a precious necklace given to her father years earlier to save her village from dark and dangerous forces. Seth says: This book takes place in 14th Century Russia and Arden uses the Russian mythology of that time to create a truly unique story that is rich in Russian culture and folk lore, but also references actual historical events.
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Magic for Liarsby Sarah GaileyIn a first novel by an Hugo Award-winning writer, a private investigator and talented liar embarks on a search for a killer at a California private academy for mages where her estranged, magically gifted twin hides in plain sight. Seth says: This book is a combination of a gritty detective novel and Harry Potter, and as strange as that sounds it really works.
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The Night Circusby Erin MorgensternWaging a fierce competition for which they have trained since childhood, circus magicians Celia and Marco unexpectedly fall in love with each other and share a fantastical romance that manifests in fateful ways. Seth says: This enthralling read is about two magicians competing over who can produce a better act. The stakes? Just their lives.
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Seth says: A fantasy list would never be complete without The Lord of the Rings. Middle Earth will always be my favorite world to get lost in.
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoneby J. K. RowlingRescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Seth says: Anyone who is interested in fantasy has probably already read about this boy wizard, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be re-read, and if you haven’t read this modern classic I recommend that you immediately start!
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Forbiddenby Ted DekkerAfter exposing himself to a vial of blood contained an old leather-bound journal, Rom realizes the entire human race has been drained of all emotions except fear and embarks on a journey to bring love and passion back into existence. Seth says: Ted Dekker is one of my favorite Christian Lit writer because of his knack for writing fast paced thrillers and fantasies. The world and the compelling plot concept for this book with Tosca Lee provides an excellent example of his talent for storytelling.
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A Darker Shade of Magicby Victoria SchwabServing as an ambassador of his own world while carrying messages to parallel-universe Londons with respective magical abilities and conflicts, Kell hides his secret smuggling activities only to be set up with a forbidden object from a dark dimension. Seth says: V.E. Schwab is one of my new favorite fantasy writers because of her ability to create unique plots. In this book there are different dimensions that contain different versions of the same city and only a select few who can travel between the worlds. If that isn’t enough to intrigue you there is also a lot of awesome magic.
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The Chronicles of Narniaby C. S. LewisAslan, the noble lion, and the royal leaders of Narnia struggle against the magical forces of evil. Seth says: It may be considered a children’s or YA book series, but they are still some of my all-time favorites books
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The Poppy Warby R. F. KuangAn epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the violent history of China's 20th century, follows the efforts of an unexpected, dark-skinned war orphan to obtain an education at Nikan's most elite military school in spite of prejudice and the challenges of her lethal shaman skills, which raise her awareness about the existence of gods and the imminence of war. Seth says: This is Kuang’s debut novel, but it certainly didn’t feel like it. The story goes from being about a girl who continually defies societal expectations making her way through a grueling and prestigious military academy to a book about war that contains some of the most brutal battles and depictions of war I have ever read. It is not for the faint of heart, but it certainly takes you on a wild ride.
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White ChicksTwo FBI agent brothers, Marcus (Marlon Wayans) and Kevin Copeland (Shawn Wayans), accidentally foil a drug bust. As punishment, they are forced to escort a pair of socialites (Maitland Ward, Anne Dudek) to the Hamptons, where they're going to be used as bait for a kidnapper. But when the girls realize the FBI's plan, they refuse to go. Left without options, Marcus and Kevin decide to pose as the sisters, transforming themselves from African-American men into a pair of blonde, white women.
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CharadeAfter Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) falls for the dashing Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex (James Coburn), Scobie (George Kennedy) and Gideon (Ned Glass), who are after a quarter of a million dollars the quartet stole while behind enemy lines. But why does Peter keep changing his name?
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GoldKenny Wells, a prospector desperate for a lucky break, teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard but keeping it is even more difficult, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street.
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Into the WoodsAs the result of the curse of a once-beautiful witch (Meryl Streep), a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) are childless. Three days before the rise of a blue moon, they venture into the forest to find the ingredients that will reverse the spell and restore the witch's beauty: a milk-white cow, hair as yellow as corn, a blood-red cape, and a slipper of gold. During their journey, they meet Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack, each one on a quest to fulfill a wish.
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Brothers GrimmThe Brothers Grimm, Wilhelm (Matt Damon) and Jacob (Heath Ledger), are dysfunctional schemers who go from town to town putting on shows that convince inhabitants they are getting rid of demons. After one such scam, a mysterious man called Cavaldi (Peter Stormare) brings them to a French general, who persuades them to battle the evil that has kidnapped 10 girls from a small village. During the investigation, the cynical Wilhelm and sensitive Jacob see things that point to real magic at work.
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In 1900s Vienna, mesmeric entertainer Eisenheim's magical abilities are wowing the crowds, with an act that ranges from mere tricks to an apparent capacity to raise the dead. However, he has also long been in love with Duchess Sophie von Teschen, which puts him in dangerous competition with the violent, scheming Crown Prince Leopold, who jumps at the opportunity to have the magician arrested grounds of necromancy.
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Princess CarabooA young woman arrives in 19th-century England and claims to be a kidnapped member of a Pacific island's royal family.
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From Time to TimeA haunting ghost story spanning two worlds, two centuries apart. While staying at his grandmother's house during the last days of the Second World War, 13-year-old Tolly is magically transported back in time, appearing as a ghost to his ancestors and helping to solve an age-old mystery.
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SerendipityOn a magical night when they are in in their 20s, Jonathan (John Cusack) meets Sara (Kate Beckinsale). He finds it love at first sight, but Sara believes in destiny. After 10 years the two -- with 3,000 miles between them -- must decide if fate wants them to be together again. When love feels like magic, it is called destiny; when destiny has a sense of humor, it is serendipity.
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Shakespeare in LoveTale about a fictional relationship between William Shakespeare and a young woman who poses as a man in order to star in one of the writer's plays. Suffering from writer's block, Shakespeare is in need of a new muse. He soon finds inspiration in the form of a beautiful female aristocrat, but her daring determination to act in his play puts their already forbidden relationship on even more dangerous ground.
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International martial arts mega-star Jackie Chan directs and performs all his own death-defying stunts in a hard-hitting and humorous action adventure that's been called one of his very best! Chan rocks the high seas as Dragon Ma, a determined coast guard officer on patrol in late 19th century Hong Kong battling a ruthless syndicate in a never-ending struggle for control of the dangerous waters.
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Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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Seven Samurai One of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai) tells the story of a sixteenth-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits. This three-hour ride from Akira Kurosawa -- featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura -- seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action, into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope.
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Famous detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) is on the Orient Express, but the train is caught in the snow. When one of the passengers is discovered murdered, Poirot immediately starts investigating.
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Danger: DiabolikThe suave, psychedelic-era thief called Diabolik (John Philip Law) can't get enough of life's good - or glittery - things. Not when there are currency shipments to steal from under the noses of snooty government officials and priceless jewels to lift from the boudoirs of the superrich. The elusive scoundrel finds plenty of ways to live up to his name in this tongue-in-cheek, live-action caper inspired by Europe's popular Diabolik comics. He clambers up walls, zaps a press conference with Exhilaration Gas, smacks a confession out of a crimelord while freefalling with him from an airplane, and pulls off the heist of a twenty-ton gold ingot. Impossible' No, diabolical - DANGER: DIABOLIK, to be exact!
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Born in the flames of hell sixty years ago during World War II, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) was brought to Earth by evil madman Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden) to perpetrate evil. Destined to be a harbinger of the apocalypse, Hellboy was instead rescued by Allied Forces led by Professor Broom (John Hurt), founder of the clandestine B.P.R.D. (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense), who raised him like a son and developed his extraordinary paranormal gifts. Learning of his dark origins, Hellboy struggles to understand his identity and the nature of his soul. Ultimately, Hellboy becomes an unlikely champion of good, battling the evil forces that threaten our world.
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Cult director Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era. 13 Assassins - a "masterful exercise in cinematic butchery" (New York Post) - is centered around a group of elite samurai who are secretly enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord to prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war torn future.
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