Thursday, April 18, 2013

DVD Review - Flash Gordon: The Complete Series

Flash Gordon: The Complete Series
Starring: Eric Johnson, Gina Holden, Karen Cliche, Jody Racicot
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: April 16, 2013
ASIN: B00BHLTIXQ
Discs: 4
Features: None
Run Time: 963 minutes
Rating:  TV-14

Review: 

Flash Gordon was a popular 1930's comic strip by Alex Raymond and ended its run in 2003. In 1935 it became a weekly radio series. The comic made its way onto the small screen in the live-action 1954-1955 series and the animated 1979-1980 series. Three more short-lived cartoon series followed in 1982, 1986, and 1996. Flash even made it on the big screen in forty serials between 1936 and 1940. The comic is more famously known for the 1980 box-office flop that featured a soundtrack by Queen, but over the years it has been become a cult classic.

Flash Gordon returned to television on Sci-Fi (now known as SyFy) for the 2007-2008 live-action series. It was released on DVD in Canada in 2009, but it was unavailable in the United States until Mill Creek Entertainment released it on DVD on Tuesday, which I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

The series followed Flash Gordon's quest to find his lost scientist father, who had disappeared when Flash was only a thirteen-year-old. His father's former assistant Dr. Hans Zarkov informs him that his father didn't disappear. His father had found a rift between space and traveled to another world called Mongo. Along with his ex-girlfriend reporter Dale Arden, Flash travels to Mongo, a world ruled by the dictator Ming, who controls Mongo's only water supply. Flash and Dale soon befriend Baylin, who helps them try to stop Ming.

The episodes on the DVD set are:

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

DVD Review - Once Upon a Rhyme

Once Upon a Rhyme
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: April 30th, 2013
ASIN: B00BAXTYBM
DVD SRP: $14.99
Run Time: 139 minutes
Rated: NOT RATED
Features: Full Screen Format; Dolby Digital - English Stero

Review:

Nickelodeon will be releasing Once Upon a Rhyme on DVD on April 30, 2013 featuring the most popular nursery rhyme episodes from Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, The Fresh Beat Band, Dora the Explorer, The Wonder Pets!, and Blue's Room.

I'm not too familiar with the programs aimed for pre-schoolers, but I was aware of Dora the Explorer and Blue's Room, but the other four shows are new to me. Nickelodeon nicely sent me a complimentary early copy for this review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Bubble Guppies is completely new to me. The series takes place in the underwater city Bubbletucky. This release features the episode "Who's Gonna Play the Big Bad Wolf", where Deema finds her passion for acting when she fills in as the Big Bad Wolf for the production of The Three Little Pigs.

In the episode Umi City Treasure Hunt from the series Team Umizoomi, Milli, Geo and Bolt find a treasure map and go on a treasure hunt all across Umi City. This is a cute episode with lots of adventure, plus it is also educational.

The Fresh Beat Band is the only live-action series on this release, featuring the episode "Royal Wedding", where the band is excited about the upcoming Royal Wedding, but the wedding may never happen as the Princess has a crush on their fellow band member, Twist. The episode reminds me of S Club 7, only sillier. I'm sure children will love the catchy music.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Monday Morning Madness #14: The Unexpected


I was hoping for a great 2013 with me getting into shape, writing more reviews and publishing more stories, but God likes to challenge people. I currently have an ear infection, sinuses and a sore throat, which I'm somewhat feeling decent thanks to some over-the-counter meds. On Thursday, my father had a micro-stroke, which hopefully he will be released from the hospital later today, but the recovery process will take sometime.

I'm pissed off that members of my family didn't visit my dad in the hospital. It'll be up to my mom and me to look after him for a few weeks, especially with his eyesight having blind spots, which may or may not improve. I think he can start driving in a few days and go back to work, but he is in for a surprise as his car keys are going to be hidden for awhile. There's also the issue with his tobacco use, which has to stop if he wants to avoid another stroke. 

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Find the Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Mother's day is only a few weeks away, which for me it becomes harder and harder every year to come up with new presents ideas for my mom and grandmother. Sure, I can get my grandmother a music CD and get my mom a quilt book, but they have so many I wouldn't know which ones they already own. Luckily, I received an opportunity to work with Oriental Trading Company, Inc, who nicely sent me a $25 gift card for me and another one for a giveaway (see the bottom of the post for it) in exchange for an honest review.

Picking out a few gifts for my mom and grandmother wasn't as easy as I thought it would be as Oriental Trading has many different products for Mother's Day. Some of the bestsellers are the "2013 Happy Mother's Day" Magnet Picture Frame Craft Kit, DIY Flowerpots, DIY Ceramic Tea Cup Planters, and the 24 Magic Color Scratch Butterfly Ornaments.

After browsing for about two hours, I settled on the Bird Figurine for my grandmother. It is made out of resin and is 7"H. As you can see from the picture, the figurine is beautiful. It is on sale for only $3.99. At that price I figured it would be cheaply made, but I was completely wrong. The figurine is going to look great on top of my grandmother's entertainment center.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

My Revolt Journey Week 6

It's been a stressful week for me as there was and still is a family emergency since Thursday, but I still stayed on track with the 6th week Revolt Now Fitness with Nichole Huntsman.

This week's workouts consisted of new routines, like calf raises and woodchoppers. Of course there were a few of my returning favorites like thrusters, squats and dead lifts. What I like about the program is that you don't need a lot of large equipments. All you need is a pair of kettlebells, a pair of dumbbells, a medicine ball, and a stationary ball. You'll also need a bench (or a step bench), a sturdy chair, and a yoga mat for some of the workouts.

The diet plan is fairly simple, in other words eat health. I'm not great at dieting, but I have cut back on things and have been making healthier choices. Like today for an example, I ate lunch at a hospital cafeteria. I had a grilled fish and a small salad. And of course I had a cup of coffee too.

The Top Ten Murder Mystery Rules


SOME RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN. Others are broken at our peril. And still others are made to create peril, delicious, lovely peril for the victim in a good old fashioned murder mystery. With that goal in mind, for your consideration I hereby present my Top Ten Murder Mystery Rules. Mystery authors should feel free to stretch them to the breaking point, but do bear in mind that most of the great murder mystery novels abide by them all, and for good reason. They work. 

1. There must be at least one murder, or else good reason to believe a murder has been, or will be, committed. 

2. The murderer’s identity must be unknown to the reader. If the murderer’s identity is unknown to the protagonist but known to the reader, the book is a suspense or thriller novel, not a murder mystery. 

3. The murderer may not be identified through a character’s psychic powers, or through magic, or through time travel, or a futuristic machine. In such cases, the book is some form of speculative fiction, not a murder mystery. 

4. The murderer and the motive for the murder must be clearly identified in the novel, preferably at the end. 

5. While the murderer may be insane, the reason for the murder must be understandable. 

Friday, April 12, 2013

Book Blogger Hop - April 12th - 18th

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!


Grab the Button!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:




(This week's question submitted by Tanya)

What was the last book you read from a genre you don't normally read?


2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

My Answer:
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: Volume XXVIII. I don't read science fiction very often, but I received the anthology free in exchange for a review.

Linky List: