Friday, June 10, 2016

Book Blogger Hop: June 10th - 16th


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 @ Silver's Reviews!

Are giveaways a part of your blog or only reviews?

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 occasionally host a sponsored giveaway for a book or DVD/Blu-ray.


Linky List:

Popcorn & Coffee: Strawberry Shortcake: Campberry Stories


Not Rated; 66 minutes; $14.98; Amazon
Now available to own on DVD and Digital HD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is Strawberry Shortcake: Campberry Stories, featuring 3 episodes from the computer-animated series.

Strawberry Shortcake was first introduced as a greeting card character for American Greetings in 1980. The character became so popular that a slew of merchandise, television-specials and animated series quickly followed.

The latest series, Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures, aired from 2010 to 2015. The "Campberry Stories" DVD contains three episodes from the series - "Tall Tale Trio," "Berry Big Tale Teller," and "The Berry Bitty Great Race."

The 3-part episodes centers on Strawberry and her pals heading off into the woods for their annual campout. While Apple Dumpling tries to make a how-to-video on how to put up a tent, the rest of the girls sits around a campfire and tells tall tales. In the first episode, Orange, Plum, and Cherry tell some outrageous stories; Sweet and Sour tells an imagined adventure in the second episode; and Apple gets to tell everyone about how she won the "great race."

Special Features includes:
  • Printable Coloring Pages and Activity Sheets (DVD-ROM drive is required)
  • Best of Sweet Sunshine Adventure
  • Strawberry Shortcake and Friends
  • Berry Sweet Mash-Ups

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: Caught


Not Rated; 94 minutes; Amazon
I tend to ignore made-for-TV movies that are based or inspired by real crime stories as they just don't appeal to me; which was probably why I never heard of the film Caught. Directed by Maggie Kelly, the film debuted last November on Lifetime. I only heard about the movie when MarVista Entertainment released the film to Digital HD and On Demand platforms this year.

Caught centers on a housewife, Sabrina (played by Anna Camp), and her younger sister, Paige, (played by Amelia Rose Blaire) kidnapping a teenager named Allie (played Stefanie Scott). It seems that Allie has been fooling around with Sabrina's husband, Justin (played by Sam Page), so Sabrina comes up with the perfect plan to get revenge.

As far as Paige is concerned, they are just going to scare Allie by keeping her tied up in the attic for a few hours and then they'll let her go. Right?

Unfortunately, Justin comes home early, ruining Sabrina's plan, well, more like changing her plans, which results in a death and a little mayhem.



DVD Review - Super Sentai: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: The Complete Series


Not Rated; 996 minutes; $59.97; Shout! Factory; Amazon
Believe it or not, but the Power Rangers franchise wouldn't exist if it wasn't the for the long-running Japanese series Super Sentai. Saban Brands (the creator/owner of the Power Rangers) used costumes, props, zords and footage from the Super Sentai series to make the Power Rangers seasons, which the tradition continues today.

The first Super Sentai series, titled Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, debuted in 1975, which involved five twenty-somethings that transform into superheros. Each new series that followed had a new cast, costumes, zords, and villains. The franchise is currently in it's 40th season (series). There are also over fifty feature films.

For the first time ever, the Super Sentai: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: The Complete Series is now available in the United States thanks to Shout! Factory, featuring all 53 episodes. There are no special features or extras on the 10 disc set.

Originally airing in Japan from February 1994 to 1995, the Ninja Sentai Kakuranger is set about a hundred years after the war between the Youkai and the ninjas. The war ended when the Youkai Commander Nurarihyon and all their energies were sealed away by Sarutobi Sasuke and the ninjas. A few of the Youkais survived by living as humans for centuries, well that is until they tricked Saizou and Sasuke (descendants of Kirigakure Saizo) into opening the sealed door and releasing all the energies, giving the Youkai the ability to transform into their original form.

Due to the new threat on Earth, the ninjas give Saizou and Sasuke strong powers and the ability to transform into Ninja Blue and Ninja Red. Three other Saizo descendants are summoned as well - Tsuruhime (Ninja White), Seikai (Ninja Yellow) and Jiraiya (Ninja Black). Together, they must battle the Youkai army with their Ninja powers, weapons and zords.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr. T


G; 89 minutes; $14.98; Mill Creek Ent.; Amazon

Everybody knows the Dr. Seuss, one of the greatest children's book authors of all time, but many of you (including me) probably didn't know that he also wrote the screenplay (under his real name, Theodor Seuss Geise) for the 1953 musical-fantasy film The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr. T.

For the first time ever, the film will be arriving on Blu-ray today from Mill Creek Entertainment. Directed by  Roy Rowland, the film starred Tommy Rettig, Mary Healy, Hans Conried and Peter Lind Hayes. There are no special features or extras on the single-disc.

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T centers on a young boy named Bart Collins (played by Tommy Rettig) who hates getting piano lessons from his stranger teacher, Dr. Terwilliker (played by Hans Conried). Despite his complaints to his mother, Heloise (played by Mary Healy), he is forced to put up with Dr. T.

While practicing the piano, Bart falls asleep and dreams of being tapped inside the Terwilliker Institute, which is operated by the evil dictator, Dr. T, who has built a large piano that will take 500 boys (5,000 fingers) to play it. Bart's mother has been hypnotized into becoming Dr. Terwiliker's personal assistant and future bride.

Bart must some how save his mother, but first he must try to outrun Dr. T's guards. His only hope lies in the plumber August Zabladowski (played by Peter Lind Hayes) to help rescue his mother and stop Dr. T's mad plan.

Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, as well as flopping at the box-office, it did receive a earned a 1953 Academy Award nomination for "Best Scoring of a Musical Picture" for the score by Frederick Hollander with lyrics by Dr. Seuss.

Blu-ray Review - Jarhead 3: The Siege


R/Unrated; 89 minutes;


Arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment today is the action-flick Jarhead 3: The Siege, featuring both the unrated and rated versions. Directed by Will Kaufman (The Hit List), the film stars Charlie Weber, William Kaufman (24) and Scott Adkins (The Bourne Ultimatum).

The film centers on Marine Corporal Evan Albright being assigned to a security team at an U.S. embassy in the Middle East. To him it's a boring job, but he tries to do his job as best as he can.

Out of nowhere, a militant group attacks the embassy and kills most of the soldiers. Albright and few of the remaining soldiers must retrieve and protect a bag full of evidence that is locked in a safe that is located in the embassy. Then they must try to survive.

There is only one featurette:

  • Making of Jarhead 3: The Siege - Go behind the scenes of Jarhead: The Siege for an inside look at the making of the film. Hear from the cast as they discuss why they were interested in joining this enthralling franchise, what it was like to shoot the battle scenes, and how the filmmakers’ vision and collaboration brought this impactful war film to life. We’ll also hear from the actors on what it was like working with one another while playing soldiers who have to overcome differences and come together for the greater good.


Monday, June 6, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: Sofia the First: The Secret Library



TV-Y; 97 minutes; $19.99; Amazon
Arriving tomorrow on DVD from Disney Home Entertainment is Sofia the First: The Secret Library, featuring four episodes from the hit Disney Junior series with special appearances by Merida from Disney/Pixar's Brave and Olaf from Disney's Frozen. While there are no special features or extras, the DVD does come with a FREE Sparkling Sofia Necklace.

Sofia the First debuted in 2012 with the pilot episode airing on the Disney Channel, followed by the rest of the series airing on Disney Junior. Currently the series is in its third season, and a fourth season has already been ordered.

The series centers on Sofia (voiced by Ariel Winters) becoming a princess after her mother married King Roland II. She has a hard time adjusting to living in the kingdom, especially when her sometimes mean stepsister Amber (voiced by Darcy Rose Byrnes) is around. Later, Sofia is given the Amulet of Avalor, which gives her the ability to talk to animals and summon other Disney Princesses.

The episodes on this release are:

Princess Adventure Club - A new student, Princess Zooey, arrives at the Royal Preparatory Academy. She starts her very own club called the Princess Adventure Club, but she doesn't allow Amber to join.

The Secret Library - After receiving a special book by Aunt Tilly (voiced by Bonnie Hunt), Sofia stumbles upon a magical library that is hidden below the kingdom. Aunt Tilly is giving her a very special job as the new "Story Keeper." Sofia's role is to help give a happy ending to the unfinished books that are in the library.


Merida Lends a Hand