Wednesday, June 22, 2016

DVD Review - Power Rangers: Ninja Storm: The Complete Series



TV-Y7; 750 minutes; $22.97; Amazon; Shout! Factory
Now available on DVD from Shout! Factory is Power Rangers: Ninja Storm: The Complete Series. The five-disc set features all 33-episodes from eleventh season of the popular franchise. This marks the first time a season was filmed in New Zealand, and the second season to be in the hands of Disney (BVS).

Using costumes, props, monsters, zords and footage from the Japanese Super Sentai series Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger, Power Rangers Ninja Storm centers on three teenagers, Tori (played by Sally Martin), Shane (played by Pua Magasiva) and Dustin (played by Glenn McMillan), who all live in Blue Bay Harbor. While at first glance they just look like your average teenagers, but they are actually students at the secret ninja school called the Wind Ninja Academy.

After the academy is the attacked by an evil banished ninja master, Lothor (played by Grant McFarland), he captures most of the students and turns their master, Sensei Kanoi Watanabe. into a guinea pig. The only survivors besides Sensei (voiced by Grant McFarland) and his son, Cam, are Tori, Shane and Dustin. The latter three are given morphers that gives them powers to transform into Wind Rangers. Along with the ability to summon zords, the Rangers battle Lothor's monsters throughout the series.

Later, the Wind Rangers join forces with the Thunder Rangers (played by Adam Tuominen and Jorgito Vargas, Jr.), and Cam (played by Jason Chan) becomes the Green Samurai Ranger.


Monday, June 20, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: Eye In The Sky Blu-ray Review & Giveaway



R; 104 minutes;
Being released on Blu-ray and DVD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the political-thriller Eye In The Sky. Directed by Gavin Hood, the film stars Academy Award Winner Helen Mirren (Trumbo, The Queen), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, Need for Speed), Academy Award Nominee Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips), Ian Glen (Game of Thrones, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) and the late Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Harry Potter) in his final on-screen performance.

Filmed in South Africa, Eye In The Sky centers on British Colonel Katharine Powell (played by Helen Mirren), who is in command of the international mission to take down terrorists in Kenya. With limited time before two suicide bombers kills innocent lives, Colonel Powell receives orders to bomb the building that the terrorists are located in.

Things don't go as planned as a young girl gets close to the building. Noticing the girl on his screen, Steve Watts (played by Aaron Paul), one of the two pilots controlling the drone in the area, puts a halt at bombing the building until he gets reconfirmation of the order.

Bonus Features on the Blu-ray includes:
  • Perspectives - Examining the ethical conflicts of drone warfare.
  • Morals - Exploring the deeper questions raised in the film.


Review: Adventure Bible: Paul Meets Jesus

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

ZonderKidz; 32 pages; $3.99; Amazon
No matter what your faith is, I believe it is important for everyone to read the whole Bible at least once. The Bible has many adult themes, but there are a few water-down versions of the Bible as well as storybooks for children.

Now available to own from Zonderkidz is the picture book Adventure Bible: Paul Meets Jesus with illustrations by David Miles.The 32-page book tells the story of how "Paul Meets Jesus."

At one time Paul was named Saul, who disliked Jesus and his followers. Saul made it his personal mission to stop the followers by throwing them into jail.

While walking towards the city, God calls upon Saul and causes him to go blind. For three days, Saul struggled to stay alive from his blindness. He didn't eat nor drink.

Then God calls upon Ananias to help save Saul by returning his sight. From then on, Saul was now called Paul and he helped spread the teachings of Jesus across the lands.

Summer Reads: The Berenstain Bears: School Time Blessings


Zonderkidz; 22 pages; $3.99; Amazon
While today is the first day of summer on the calendar, the stores will begin stocking the aisles with school supplies next month. While some kids dread going back to school (I know I always did!), others enjoy going back.

Now available in bookstores tomorrow from Zonderkidz is The Berenstain Bears: School Time Blessings by Mike Berenstain.

The 22-page picture book centers on Brother and Sister Bear getting ready to go back to school, while their little sister Honey is getting ready to start nursery school. Both Brother and Sister are excited about seeing their classmates. Brother can't wait to learn more about history and Sister is looking forward to showing off her math skills.

Sadly, Brother and Sister aren't very good at some subjects, so Brother helps Sister with her history lessons and Sister helps Brother with his math.

Meanwhile, Honey is extremely nervous about going to school and she fears she will miss her parents as soon as they drop her off.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: Eddie The Eagle


PG-13; 105 minutes; $39.99; Amazon
Now available to own on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD from Twentieth Fox Home Entertainment is the feel-good movie Eddie The Eagle. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, the film stars Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Hugh Jackman (The Wolverine).

Based upon the real 1988 British Olympic skier Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, Taron Egerton stars in the title role, a young man who has always dreamed of winning an Olympic gold metal ever since he was a ten-year-old! While at first his goal was to find a sport that he was good at to participate in a future Summer Games, he quickly finds out that he isn't good at anything. However, that doesn't stop him as he sets a new goal to participate as a skier in a future Winter Games, but first he will have to learn how to ski.

As an adult, Eddie is now a great skier, but he is rejected by British Olympic officials. Most people would give up by now, but Eddie is determined to go to Olympics no matter what. He comes up with the idea to be a ski jumpier, but he will have to teach himself how to jump. Against his father's wishes, he heads off to the training facility in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Sadly, Eddie slowly learns that jumping from a high distance isn't as easy as it looks. After several failed attempts at jumping the 40-meter (130 ft) hill, Eddie enlists Bronson Peary (played by Hugh Jackman), a former skier turned drunken snow groomer, to train him. Due to a loophole in the British Olympic rules, Eddie qualifies for the Winter Games by jumping 61 meters (200 ft).

Special Features includes:
  • Let The Games Begin: Soaring With Eddie The Eagle
  • All Or Nothing: The Hero's Heart
  • An Unlikely Friendship: Eddie Peary
  • Attitude Is Altitude: Filming The Ski Jumps
  • Gallery

Varina Denman’s ‘Jilted’ $50 Sweet Summertime Giveaway

Can all things really work together for good, and can the joy of living be found once again? Don't miss one woman's story in book three, Jilted, of Varina Denman's Mended Hearts series. Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Celebrate the release of Varina's Jilted by entering to win a $50 gift card.

jilted-400 

One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of Jilted to kick off a summer of reading
  • A $50 Kohl's gift card to make your summertime sweet
The giveaway ends on July 1st. The winner will be announced July 5th on Varina's website.

Review - Jilted


David C. Cook; 384 pages; $14.99; Buy Link; Blog Tour
Now available to purchase in bookstores from David C. Cook is the third novel in the Mended Heart series by Varina Denman, titled Jilted. Set in the small town of Trapp, Texas, where gossip and rumors spread quickly among the townsfolk.

Jilted centers on Lynda Turner, a woman who has suffered from depression ever since her husband left her, as well as their daughter (Ruthie - aka, the main character from the first novel), over fifteen years ago. Lynda has had a lifetime of troubles - the death of parents, her high school boyfriend cheated on her, her husband left her and she was kicked out of her church.

Finding love again was the last thing Lynda had on her mind when an ex-con, Clyde, takes an interests in her. Her self-esteem is low; believing that all she is a waitress at a diner and nothing else. Why would any man (even an ex-con) be interested in her?

Lynda must find a way to forget her past, forgive her own mistake and restrengthen her faith in the Lord before she can see any sort of future with Clyde.

Jilted Varina Denman