Sunday, February 1, 2015

Blu-ray Review - Tales from EarthSea



Tales from Earthsea
Director: Gorō Miyazaki
Voice Cast: Timothy Dalton, Cheech Marin, William Dafoe and Mariska Hargitay
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00PYAE2M8
Running Time: 115 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the first time in the United States is the 2006 Japanese anime Tales from Earthsea. The film is directed by Gorō Miyazaki and features the American voice cast of Timothy Dalton, Cheech Marin, William Dafoe and Mariska Hargitay. Bonus Features include the Original Japanese Storyboards, the Original Japanese TV Spots & Trailers, The Birth Story Of The Film Soundtrack and the Behind The Studio: Origins Of Earthsea.

Based on the "Earthsea" book series by Ursula K. Le Guin, Tales from Earthsea takes place in a mythical world called Earthsea, a place where the crops are dying out just as the legendary dragons have reappeared and threatens all of humanity.

The film centers on a famous wizard Lord Archmage Sparrowhawk (voiced by Timothy Dalton) and a young prince, Arren (voiced by Matt Levin), whom go on a quest to discover what is threatening to destroy their world.

Review - Leo-Superhero: A Sunday Morning Adventure


Leo-SuperHero: A Sunday Morning Adventure
by The Brothers
Publisher: TheBrothers
Publ. Date: November 28, 2013
ASIN: B00EUX4C70
Pages: 25
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Since the Super Bowl doesn't start until tonight and the small fact that there is a few inches of snow on the ground, this would be a perfect to read to a good book.

I would like to recommend the picture book Leo-SuperHero: A Sunday Morning Adventure by The Brothers! The book centers on a seven-year-old boy named Leo who lives with his parents, a younger sister and a curious cat named Milkshake.

Early one Sunday morning while everyone else is a sleep, Milkshake wakes up Leo as the cat wants to show him something. Leo hops out of bed, slips on his superhero costume and follows Milkshake downstairs into the kitchen. That is where he discovers a hole in the wall and inside the hole is a frighten little mouse.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Review - Where I Belong by Mary Downing Hahn


Where I Belong
by Mary Downing Hahn
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pub. Date: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0544230200
Pages: 240
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

One of the best children book authors is Mary Downing Hahn. The first book I read by her was Closed For The Season a couple of years ago. Now everytime I come across one of her older titles at a thrift store, I make sure to buy it.

Her newest book Where I Belong was published last spring and centers on Brendan Doyle, an unpopular young man who doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of his classmates. He is bullied everyday and he is treated poorly by his foster-mother and teachers.

Brendan distracts himself by hiding in books and takes many hobbies, including carving and drawing. He is basically a daydreamer looking for a way to escape his life. While walking in the woods, he comes across a man and he comes to conclusion that this man is the magical Green Man, the guardian spirit of the forest.

Review - The Doll Graveyard


The Doll Graveyard
Hauntings Series
by Lois Ruby
Publisher: Scholastic
Pub. Date: June 14, 2014
ISBN: 978-0545617864
Pages: 256
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I have always preferred reading printed novels over eBooks, which is probably one of the reasons why I had forgotten this children book was on my Kindle until I stumbled upon it last week.

The Doll Graveyard is written by Lois Ruby and centers on Shelby and Brian Tate, whom have just moved into the Cinder Creek house. This isn't just an ordinary house as the kids start to believe it is haunted. Strange cries can be heard throughout the night and objects suddenly move on their own.

All of this probably has something to do with the fact that there is a graveyard in their backyard. The oddest thing about the graves is that they are extremely tiny, as if the graves were meant for dolls.

DVD Review - Salsa Dance Workout


Salsa Dance Workouts
Studio: DanceCrazy.com
Release Date: January 1, 2008
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B000FP2T0Y
Running Time: 106 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

If you have been following my blog regularly for the last few months, then you have probably noticed that I have been reviewing several learn-to-dance type DVDs.

While the other DanceCrazy DVDs that I have tried out were strictly learn-to-dance for beginners, this workout is suppose to be a full-blown workout that is suppose to help you lose weight and get fit. Similar to other the dancing workouts, there is only one male and one female instructors that shows you step-by-step how to do each move. The workout features music from Benny Velarde y SuperCombo and Anthony Blea y su Charanga.

The Salsa Dance Workout is split into different sections with a 19 minute Stretching and Isolation warmup, Beginners Footwork: Salsa Basics (20 mins), Intermediate Footwork: Breakdown (30 mins), Intermediate Workout with Music (30 minutes) and a 7 minute bonus workout.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: January 30th - February 5th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

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!

Do you ever get comments from authors when you have posted or tweeted your review?

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: 

I have had a few author stop by my blog during a book blog tour and they would thank me for the review or guest post that I had published. There have also been a few Christian writers that have stopped by my blog and left a comment on my reivew of one of their books. 

Linky List:

Thursday, January 29, 2015

DVD Review - Doc McStuffins: Cuddle Me Lambie


Doc McStuffins: Cuddle Me Lambie
Voice Cast: Kiara Muhammad, Lara Jill Miller, Robbie Rist
Jess Harnell, Loretta Devine, Jaydon Betts, Kimberly Brooks
Gary Anthony Williams
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Retail: $19.99
ASIN: B00PM0SPLE
Running Time: 120 minutes
Rating: TV-Y
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD on Tuesday February 3, 2015 is Doc McStuffins: Cuddle Me Lambie, featuring 6 full episodes from the hit Disney Junior animated series. There are no extras or special features on the single-disc set. However, there is a free Lambie Hair Clips with each DVD purchase.

Doc McStuffins centers on an African-American girl named Dottie (Doc) McStuffins (voiced by Kiara Muhammad), who wants to be a Doctor just like her mother when she grows up. When she puts on her stethoscope, she imagines that her toys come to life and she acts as a doctor to these toys by giving them checkups and healing their wounds.

The series has received wonderful reviews from critics and has become one of the most popular shows on Disney Junior. The series is currently in it's third season.

The episodes on the single-disc are:

My Huggy Valentine / Dusty Bear - Doc receives a heart-shaped toy that she names Val. The other toys love spending time with Val, but Lambie becomes jealous. Later, Doc finds Donny's old stuff bear, Teddy B, and attempts to return the toy to him, but there is one problem - Donny is allergic to Teddy B.