Tarzan: Special Edition
Directors: Chris Buck & Kevin Lima
Voice Cast: Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Rosie O'Donnell, Glenn Close, Brian Blessed, Lance Henriksen, Wayne Knight, Nigel Hawthorne
Studio: Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00K5ZXIZY
Running Time: 88 minutes
Rating: G
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

The 1999 Disney classic animated film Tarzan is getting the Blu-ray treatment on Tuesday, August 12. The film is directed by Chris Buck & Kevin Lima and features the voice talents of Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Rosie O'Donnell, Glenn Close, Brian Blessed, Lance Henriksen, Wayne Knight and Nigel Hawthorne. Bonus Features include deleted scenes, Research Trip to Africa, The Making Of The Music, "You'll e In My Heart" Music Video Preformed by Phil Collins and DisneyPedia: Living In The Jungle.

Based on the story Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first animated version of Tarzan blends traditional animation with 3D backgrounds. Set during the 19th Century off the shore of Africa, an English couple barley escapes their burning ship. The take refuge in the rainforest by building a treehouse, where the plan on raising their son. Out of nowhere, a lioness, Sabor, invades the treehouse and murders the couple.

A female gorilla, Kala, hears the cries of the baby boy and comes to his rescue just in the nick of time to stop Sabor from claiming another victim. Sabor is the one that murdered Kala's child a few days before. Despite her mate's (Kerchak) objections, Kala claims the child as her own, naming him Tarzan.

Tarzan grows up as an ape and becomes best-friends with a gorilla named Terk and an elephant named Tantor. Shortly after he enters adulthood, human explorers invade their camp, leading Tarzan to meet the English woman, Jane. While Jane and Professor Porter are fascinated with Tarzan, their their hunter-guide Clayton isn't impressed. Actually, Clayton is planning on caging the apes and selling them.

This month, I have songs about books on the brain. Last week on Daily Mayo, I made a list of 12 hit songs that are inspired by books.

Today, I decided it would be fun to look and see if any songs feature the writing process. Although a lot of songs have literary themes, few that I found actually were specifically about writing.

The best songs about writing that I uncovered are listed below:

Party for the Fight to Write-- Atmosphere

This song is about the writing process- mainly about the struggle to be a good band, but much of the lyrics can also apply to prose writers. The chorus and a few significant lines feel like references to the writing process- and in one line he references the book The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton.

Biggest reference to writing: “And he said some got pencils and some got guns, some know how to stand and some of them run; we don't get along, but we sing the same song – party for the fight to write, and write on.”

Open Book – Cake

This song is more about a boyfriend not knowing how to read his girlfriend than it is about actually writing, but there are plenty of lyrics that could be taken literally.

Biggest reference to writing:

"She's writing, she's weaving
Conceiving a plot
It quickens, it thickens
You can't put it down now
It takes you, it shakes you
It makes you lose your thought"

Losing It—Rush

Losing It is basically about the fear of failure and never quite reaching your dreams- as it happens to most people. In the song, a dancer and a writer are both mentioned. Rush sums up the point of the song with the lines:

Hercules: Special Edition
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Voice Cast: Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Susan Egan, Rip Torn
Studio: Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00K5ZXJFI
Running Time: 93 minutes
Rating: G
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the first time is the 1997 Disney animated classic Hercules. The film is directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and features the voice talents of Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Susan Egan and Rip Torn. Bonus Features include From Zero to Hero Sing-Along "No Importa La Distancia" Music Video and The Making of Hercules.

Based on the Greek mythology, the film centers on Zeus' son, Hercules, who is kidnapped by Hade's minions (Pain and Panic). The two feed the baby Hercules a formula that makes him mortal. As a mortal, Hercules can no longer live with his parents at Mount Olympus, as it is a place for Gods only. Therefore, Hercules is left to be raised by a moral couple.

Years pass by and Hercules has grown into an adult with super strength. His foster parents inform him about his birth parents. Then Hercules sets off for the temple of Zeus, where his father leaves him a message to search for the satyr Philoctetes, "Phil." who will train Hercules to become a hero. Once he becomes a hero, then maybe he would one day be accepted into Mount Olympus, but hiding in the darkness is Hades, whom is planning on overthrowing Zeus and taking over Mount Olympus.

Arriving on DVD on later this month from ARC Entertainment is the computer-animated family Adventure Planet. The film is directed by Kompin Kemgumnird and features the voice talents of  Jane Lynch (Fox’s “Glee,” Wreck-It Ralph), Brooke Shields (Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana”), Bailee Madison (Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place”), Drake Bell (Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh,” Super Hero Movie) and J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man Trilogy).

About the film:

Get ready for this amazing adventure that shows how kids can save the world! NORVA and JORPE are a gifted and loving sister and brother living in Thailand who have unique abilities to communicate with nature. They literally run into SAM, the son of the president of the Capital State, when he gets lost on a scouting expedition. Sam is impetuous and fool-hardy, but he soon learns to respect his two companions as his electronic gadgets go haywire and strange, burning objects plunge from the sky. The kids rush to the Capital State to warn the president and stop the damage, but they’re no match for the energy-hungry devices that threaten to engulf the planet. The only way to prevent the complete destruction of the world is to turn off all the power and let the earth regenerate, but how can they get the message across to everyone in time?

Adventure Planet DVD

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Transformers: Cybertron: The Complete Series
Voice Cast: Garry Chalk, Matt Hill
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: August 5th, 2014
Retail: $44.99
ASIN: B00JHH1ZYW
Running Time: 1180 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving today on DVD is Transformers: Cybertron: The Complete Series, the third and final chapter in the UNICRON Trilogy, featuring all 52 episodes on 7 discs.


The series first aired in Japan in 2005 as a reboot, but when the English-dubbed version aired in the United States, new dialogue was added to connect to Transformers: Armada and Transformers: Energon; making this a trilogy. Unlike the previous series, Cybertron blends computer-animation with traditional 2D animation.

After a black hole threatens their home-world, Cybertron, the Autobots, lead by Optimus Prime, take refuge on Earth by transforming into vehicles. Before long, they are confronted by an ancient Autobot, Vector Prime, who informs them about the Cyber Planet Keys that can help stop the black hole from destroying their planet. The keys are scattered across the universe on four planets and the only map is in the hands of the Decepticons.

Along with their three human friends, Coby, Bud and Lori, the Autobots are in a race against time to find the keys and save their planet.

The 52 episodes on the 7-disc set are:

Woman of Courage
by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Pub. Date: April 4, 2013
Pages: 320
Buy Link:  Amazon

Review:

I guess it is a little predicable that I'm reviewing another historical fiction title, but I can't give you an excuses, except for the fact that I enjoy reading the genre. Two of my favorite Christian authors are Beverly Lewis and Wanda E. Brunstetter, so any time one of their books becomes available to review, I eagerly sign up to review it.

While the majority of Wanda E. Brunstetter's books are either set in the Amish or the Mennonite world, her newest book, Woman of Courage, is about a Quaker woman, Amanda Pearson, who was jilted by her fiance, Nathan. While she is upset about the breakup, she uses this opportunity to start a new life by going out west to join Rev. & Mrs. Spalding on their mission to minister the Nez Perce Indians.

Accompanied by her father and a guide, Harvey, Amanda heads west for the Lapawia Valley, but after a deadly situation, tragedy strikes, resulting in Buck McFadden rescuing her and bringing her to the home of Jim and Mary Beck, so she can heal her wounds. Despite her near death experience, she is determined to continue her missionary.

The Other Woman
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: July 29th, 2014
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B00KNAMMOY
Running Time: 109 minutes
Rated: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Now available to own on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD is this past spring's blockbuster comedy, The Other Woman, directed by Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook) and starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones). Despite negative reviews by critics, the film took in over $194 million at the box-office. Special features on the Blu-ray inlcude deleted scenes & alternate scenes, gag reel and "Giggle Fit."

The film centers on a New York Attorney, Carly (played by Cameron Diaz), who quickly falls in love with businessman Mark (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) after only eight weeks of dating. When Mark cancels their date, as he has to out of town because the house he owns is having plumbing problems, Carly follows him to his house, only to be greeted by his wife, Kate (played by Leslie Mann).

Kate quickly figures out her husband's extracurricular activities and confronts Carly, which for some odd reason the two of them become friends and they begin spying on Mark, who happens to have another girlfriend, Amber (played by Kate Upton). Before long, Kate and Carly recruit Amber in their pursuit of getting revenge on Mark.

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 is submitted by Elizabeth!

How many bookcases do you have, and how do you organize the shelves?

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: 

 2 Tall Bookcases

Four Shelves Under Computer Desk

Hallway Closet (1 bookshelves, two carts, 2 wall shelves)

1 Cabinet Bookshelf in Bedroom

6 Wall Shelves in Bedroom Closet

1 Small Bookcase in Bedroom

Books Piled Up in an Old Entertainment Center

My books my not be look organized by the naked eye, but I know where each and every book is located.

Need For Speed
Director: Scott Waugh
Starring: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Michael Keaton
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures & Touchstone Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Retail: $44.99
Running Time: 131 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Walmart

Review:

Arriving  on Blu-ray on Tuesday, August 5, 2014, is the supercharged action-flick Need For Speed, directed by Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) and starring Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). Special features include Capturing Speed: Making An Authentic Car Movie, Ties That Bind, The Circus Is In Town, Audio Commentary Monarch & Maverick Outtakes, The Sound of Need For Speed, Deleted Scenes and Need For Speed Rivals Trailer.

Based on the popular video game series, the film centers on the former racer, Tobey Marshall (played by Aaron Paul), who is now a mechanic in New York. Out of nowhere, he is offered a chance to earn 25% of a $2 million from Dino Brewster (played Dominic Cooper) in exchange for finishing the rare Ford Shelby Mustang, a car that was designed by the late Carroll Shelby. Tobey and his pals, Maverick, Joe, Little Pete and Finn finish building the car just in time for Dominic to sell it to an exotic car dealer, Julia Maddon (played by Imogen Poots), for $2.7 million. Dominic doesn't want to pay the 25% share and challenges Tobey and Little Pete to a race, resulting in Tobey being sent to prison for involuntary manslaughter.

Tobey is released on parole two years later and he has one thing on his mind - revenge! He talks Julia Maddon in letting him drive the Ford Shelby Mustang in the De Leon, a underground racing event organized by local DJ Monarch (played by Michael Keaton), but there are a few catches - the race is invite only, Julia must ride with him and the race will take place in California, leaving them only two days to drive from New York to the west coast. With Maverick in the air watching the traffic and Joe and Finn in a truck behind him, Tobey races across the country with police and bounty hunters in pursuit.

Kalona's Fall
A House of Night Novella
by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pub. Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-1250046116
Pages: 150
Buy Link: Hardback

Review:

Since 2007, the mother daughter writing duo, P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast, have tantalized readers with their vampire-themed A House of Night series. Before the series officially ends with Redeemed this fall, fans of the series can grab their hands on this week's release of the prequel novella, Kalona's Fall.

He was laughing with her as he spread his wings and lifted her from the ground, twirling her.Nyx gasped and clutched his neck. Kalona tightened his arms around her.

“Trust me, Goddess. I would never let you fall.”

The novella is an origin story of the two winged brothers, Erebus (son of the golden sun) and Kalona (son of the moon), who were created by Mother Earth to be the companions to the Goddess Nyx. The brothers are completely different from each other and Nyx loves them both dearly. She is sexually attracted to Kalona, but she is attracted to Erebus's mind and talents. Only one of these winged brothers will be worthy of being her true companion, so the brothers are tested with three tasks, which the outcome will determined their fates.