Writing Fight Scenes
By Rayne Hall
Publisher: Scimitar Press
Pub. Date: September 11, 2011
ASIN: B005MJFVS0
Pages: 173

Review:

Every aspiring or amateur writer have probably wondered how to write a perfect fight scene like in your favorite adventure novel or in the latest James Bond film, but not unless you are born with natural talents of writing fight scenes, you may need some help. Author Rayne Hall has written an entire book on Writing Fight Scenes.

Did you know there are two basic fight scenes? Gritty (example: Horror) and entertaining (example: Harlequin romance).

The author gives wonderful advice and tips on what to use and what to avoid when writing the best fighting scene, which the scenes can be written in a few sentences or a full chapter. There are several chapters on different weapons and the correct way to have your characters use them, such as swords, knives, daggers, staffs, spears, polearms, clubs, maces, axes, slings, arrows, firearms, and magical weapons.

Of course readers love characters (male or female) that can defend themselves without the use of a weapon. There are a few chapters on unarmed combat and self-defense. You'll also learn the difference between the way men and women fight and their psychological barriers.

Evil Dead 
Director: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth Blackmore
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Retail: $30.99
ASIN: B008JFUNYG
Running Time: 91mins.
Rating: R

Review:

On a summer afternoon in the mid-90s, I found myself bored to death, so I started flipping through the channels, and I came upon a newly added channel, Sci Fi Channel (now known as SyFy), which was airing a campy movie with Bruce Campbell fighting demons with a shotgun and a chainsaw. I checked the TV Guide (yep, back then they actually had a listing for the daytime) and I learned the name of the movie - Army of Darkness. While visiting the city, I found a VHS copy of Army of Darkness at a Best Buy. I read the back of the box-cover and learned something else - the movie was the third part of a trilogy called Evil Dead. Of course this got me excited, so I hunted through the horror shelves and found Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn. I bought both the VHSs (well my parents did since I was underage at the time). Weeks later I rented the first movie at a video store and I later bought it on VHS the following year. That being said, I watched the Evil Dead trilogy backwards!

Due to a family emergency, I missed out in seeing the remake/reboot/sequel (or whatever you want to call it) on the big screens this past spring, but I did buy it on DVD this summer and my expectations were pretty high.

In the 2013 version, Mia (played by Jane Levy) is a heroine addict trying one last time to become free of her demons with the aid of her friends, Eric (played by (Lou Taylor Pucci), Olivia (played by Jessica Lucas), her brother David (played by Shiloh Fernandez) and his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore), at her family's remote cabin deep in the woods.

Soon after arriving, a foul smell leads them to the cellar, where they come across rotten animal carcasses, a shotgun and a strange book titled Naturom Demonto, AKA  the Book of the Dead. Eric makes the deadly mistake of reading a passage from it, which summons a horrifying demon.

Everyone wants a car that is efficient with fuel. However, there are many important factors to consider when you need a new vehicle. Many people suffer from buyer’s remorse immediately after purchasing a new vehicle. As a buyer it is your responsibility to make sure your new vehicle has everything that you want and need. A new car is not a purchase that you want to make hastily. Take your time and consider every detail down to the smallest minutiae and you will end up a happy car owner. You would be wise to consider the amount of passengers you will have normally. This information can narrow down your choices substantially. Test ride your vehicle with all of your regular passengers before you make the big decision. Make sure the ride is just as comfortable for your passengers as it is for yourself. If you’re looking for a vehicle that can be fuel efficient, and perform truck duties while having enough space for luggage and passengers, you may want to check out a GMC Acadia in Kansas City.

Looks Are More Important than You Think

Another seemingly less important factor to consider when searching for a new car is aesthetics. Many people claim to care only about their vehicle getting them from place to place without problems.

Halloween finally arrived and it was Mary's sixteenth birthday. Mary's parent's finally decided she was old enough to have a sleep over at their house. But she was only allowed to have two of her best friends spend the night after the party. Mary called Kathy and Kim to see if they would stay and have a sleep over at her house. Kathy and Kim both agreed and said that they would have a great time together being that they were all best of friends. Mary hung up the phone and said "This is the best day of my life. I'm going to turn sixteen today and I finally get to date boys."

Her party didn't start until 6pm and she was already planning fun things for her and her two best friends to do after the party.

Mary's mom said "Mary, its 6 o'clock and time to start the party."

Mary greeted her friends at the door as they came in with their presents in hand and sat them on the kitchen table.

Finally, Kathy and Kim showed up and placed Mary's presents on the table. Mary thanked everyone for coming to her party. Then Mary blew out the candles on her birthday cake as everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

The party was finally over and Mary and her two friends Kathy and Kim were ready to play some games, and spend some quality time together.

As the night wore on Mary said "It's midnight and since its Halloween why don't we go in the bathroom and turn off the light and play "Bloody Mary.”

Monsters University
Director: Dan Scanlon
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman
Studio: Disney/Pixar
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Retail: $45.99

ASIN: B008JFUPOY
Running Time 104mins.
Rating: G

Review:


It’s been twelve years since audiences were introduced to Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, "Sulley" in Disney/Pixar's 2001 computer animated movie Monsters, Inc… On October 29, 2013, this summer's box-office hit prequel Monsters University arrives on Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, DVD and Digital Copy, just in time for the holiday season. The Blu-Ray features monstrous bonus extras such as Pixar's theatrical short "The Blue Umbrella"; Audio Commentary; Campus Life; Story School; Scare Games; Montropology; Welcome to MU; Music Appreciation; Scare Tactics; Color and Light; Paths to Pixar: MU Edition; Furry Monsters; Deleted Scenes; Set Flythroughs; Art Gallery; and Promo Picks. 

Ever since visiting Monster Inc. as a kid, Mike Wazowski (voice by Billy Crystal) has wanted to be a scarier, despite the fact that he isn't very scary looking. Eleven years later, Mike is now enrolled at Monsters University. Soon, he meets Sulley (voiced by John Goodman), who comes from a family of scariers. While Mike studies hard to pass his classes, Sulley uses his natural scary abilities to cruise through the classes, but Dean Hardscrabble fails both of them and they are kicked out of the scarier program.

The only choice Mike has left to become a scarier is to enter into the Scare Games, but he needs to be part of a fraternity, which the only one available is the Oozma Kappa, full of non-scary monsters. Once again, there is another problem, the fraternity is still one member short of entering into the Scare Games, and that is where Sulley comes into the group.

Glittering Promises
The Grand Tour Series, Book 3
By Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pub. Date: October 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1434764287
Pages: 464
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/pvxTP
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/lbegren 

Review:

In the third and final book in The Grand Tour Series, Cora Kensington's life changed forever when she learned the truth about her birth father, who happens to be a rich man, and her siblings, leading her to go on the Grand Tour to get better acquainted with them. While it has taken quite some time, she is finally connecting with her siblings, but she is still somewhat estranged from her birth father, though she hopes to one day have some sort of daughter/father relationship with him.

Now in Italy, Cora must finally come to terms with her true feelings for Will and deal with her attraction to the Pierre de Richelieu. Worst yet is that there is a slue of journalists chasing her father, siblings and herself as they all want to the "rags to riches" story to headline their newspapers and magazine, something the family would like to avoid at all costs.