Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson
Studio: Marvel Studios
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Retail: $32.99 (Blu-ray)
ASIN: B0090SI3GQ
Running Time: 136 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on Tuesday September 9, 2014 is the action-packed Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Solider. The film is directed by brothers Anthony Russo and Joe Russo and stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson. Bonus Features includes: On The Front Line: An Inside Look At Captain America's Battlegrounds; On Set With Anthony Mackie: Cut The Check!; Steve Roger's Notebook; deleted & extended scenes; gag reel and commentaries.

Following off of the footsteps of 2012's Marvel's The Avengers and last year's Thor: The Dark World is this year's sequel to the 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. Set two years after The Avengers, The Winter Solider opens up with Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) and Agent Natasha Romanoff (played by Scarlett Johansson) leading S.H.I.E.L.D.'s counter-terrorism S.T.R.I.K.E. team to rescue hostages from mercenaries, but S.H.I.E.L.D has another agenda for the mission, which was ordered by Director Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) - extract data from the ships computer.

Unable to encrypt the data, Director Fury is ambushed by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s soldiers and the Winter Soldier (played by Sebastian Stan), but before his apparent death, he informs Rogers that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been compromised.

What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days 
by Holley Gerth
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800722883
Pages: 256
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving in bookstores today from Revell, a Baker Publishing Group, is the 52 day devotional, titled What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days by Holley Gerth.

Everyone has had at least one hard day in their life; whether it is at school, work or at home, the Lord is always there to help guide you through it. As Jesus said, "live on bread alone, but on every word that comes with the mouth of God." (Matt 4:4). When times are tough we sometimes forget that we're not alone - "taste and see the that the Lord is good." (Ps. 34:8)

Yes, I'm well aware that the book is targeted for women readers, so you might be wondering why a male reader would want to review it. Well, first off, I have always enjoyed reading daily devotionals and I'm planning on giving my review copy to my mother for Christmas. Plus, I like the coffee cup that is featured on the cover.

14 Blades
Director: Donnie Lee
Starring: Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, Wu Chun, Kate Tsui and Qi Yuwu
Studio: Anchor Bay
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00L6AW1IW
Running Time: 113 minutes
Rating: R
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the first time in the United States is the 2010 wuxia film 14 Blades. The film was directed by Donnie Lee and stars Donnie Yet, Zhao Wei, Wu Chun, Kate Tsui and Qi Yuwu. There are no extras of special features on the Blu-ray.

Set during the late Ming Dynasty, 14 Blades centers on the Jinyiwei commander, Qinglong (played by Donnie Yen), who is ordered by the emperor's uncle, Prince Qing (played by Sammo Hung), and the Jinyiwei chief, Jia Jingzhong, to retrieve a safe box that is in the possession of imperial councilor, Zhao Shenyan. Unknowingly to Qinglong, Prince Qing and Jingzhong are planning on revolting against the emperor and they tell him that the box has evidence that the councilor is going to revolt.

To his surprise, Quinglong learns that he has been tricked, as the box contains the Imperial Seal, and he soon becomes an enemy to his fellow Jinyiweis. Now seen as a traitor to the emperor, he has no other choice, but to join the Justice Escort Agency, while he continues to stay loyal to the emperor by looking for more evidence against Prince Qung and Jingzhong.

There's A Mouse Hiding In This Book!
Tom & Jerry
By Benjamin Bird
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Pub. Date: September 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1623701253
Pages: 32

Review:

Tom & Jerry has been entertaining millions of cartoon fans since 1940 with its simple premise of a cat chasing a mouse. From theatrical shorts, animated series and made-to-video animated movies, the cat and mouse have stayed popular over the years with each  generation of children.

Arriving on in bookstores from Capstone Young Readers is the picture book, There's A Mouse Hiding In This Book staring Tom & Jerry.

Tom the cat is upset that Jerry the mouse has entered his picture book. Jerry has stepped into some paint and his footprints are on each page. Tom follows the footprints in the hopes of finally catching the mouse. From mousetraps to a dog, it seems Tom keeps running into anything and everything except for Jerry, as the mouse is too clever for him.

A Light in the Wilderness
by Jane Kirkpatrick
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800722319
Pages: 320
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving in bookstores tomorrow is the historical western A Light in the Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick. I'm a big fan of historical westerns, but I have never read read a title by the author, though I'm more than aware of the author's works, as my grandmother has read the Tender Ties series. That being said, I was looking forward to reading A Light in the Wilderness, which I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A Light in the Wilderness tells the true story of Letitia Carson, who was one of the first free African Americans, as she journeys from Kentucky to Oregon. After being freed by her owner, Letitia joins a wagon train that is headed west, where she meets an Irish immigrant cattleman, Davey Carson. Eventually the two get married and start a family, even though back then their marriage wouldn't have been legal. After her husband's death, Letitia had to fight to keep the land that she owned.

This book not only tells the story of Letitia Carson, but it also tells the story of two other strong women, Nancy Hawkins - a white woman, who travels in the same wagon train that Letitia is in and becomes friends with her; and Betsy, a Kalapuya Indian living in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, who also befriends Letitia.

Draft Day
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Frank Langella, Sam Elliot, Ellen Burstyn, Chadwick Boseman
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B00KVFHBP6
Running Time: 110 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD and Blu-ray on September 2nd from Summit Entertainment is the NFL drama Draft Day. The film is directed by Ivan Reitman and stars Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Frank Langella, Sam Elliot, Ellen Burstyn and Chadwick Boseman. Special Features include: "On the Clock: The Making of Draft Day" Documentary (Blu-ray Exclusive); "Welcome to Primetime" Featurette (Blu-ray Exclusive); Audio Commentary with the Writers; Deleted Scenes; and Theatrical Trailer.

Draft Day takes place during the fictionalized 2014 NFL Draft and centers on Cleveland Browns General Manager Sonny Weaver Jr. (played by Kevin Costner). He is still mourning the death of his father, who happens to the be the Brown's former coach that he fired, but he must concentrate on picking the perfect player for the team, which isn't easy with the 7th draft pick.

Opportunity knocks when the manager of the Seattle Seahawks offers him an intriguing deal - the 1st draft pick in exchange for the Bowns' first three picks for the next three years. He refuses the offer at first, but eventually accepts it after being pressured to "make a splash" by the Browns owner Anthony Molina (played by Frank Langella). Anthony wants him to pick University of Wisconsin quarterback, Bo Callahan, which upsets the head coach (played by Denis Leary) as he wanted the running back Ray Jennings as this year's first pick.