Friday, June 24, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: Adventures In Babysitting


TV-G; 94 minutes; $19.99; Amazon
I'm sure many people cringe every time they hear the word "remake." In recent years, Hollywood has remade movie after movie, and almost all of them have been complete disasters.

Tonight, the Disney Channel will premiere their 100th original movie, titled Adventures In Babysitting, a remake of the 1987 classic comedy. The film will quickly arrive on DVD on June 28th. The only special features on the single-disc is Adventures In Outtakes - Watch these never-before-seen cast bloopers and laugh yourself silly! The DVD comes with a FREE Magnetic Photo Frame.

The remake centers on two high school seniors, Jenny Parker (played by Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola Perez (played by Sofia Carson), who accidentally switches cell phones while applying for a summer internship program. The girls are complete opposites of each other. Jenny is mature for her age, while Lola is free-spirited and never listens to the rules.

After receiving a call on Jenny's cell about a babysitting job, Lola poses as her and agrees to babysit Trey, Bobby and AJ Anderson. It seems like an easy way to make $20 an hour, but things go horribly wrong when the oldest kid, Trey, goes missing.

Jenny eventually figures out that her cell has been switched and heads over to the Anderson's house to retrieve it with the two kids, Katy and Emily Cooper, she is babysitting in tow. When Jenny realizes that Lola had lost Trey, she takes action and finds a few clues that pinpoints Trey's location. It seems he headed to the city to buy concert tickets at a pawn shop.

Jenny borrows the Anderson's car, dragging Lola and all the kids with her to big city to hunt for Trey. Sadly, things don't go as plan when the car gets towed away and two criminals are chasing after them.

Book Blogger Hop: June 24th - 30th


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 Rustic @ YA on my Mind!

  Who is your favorite fictional couple?

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: 

 Wow! This is a good question this week. I don't know if I have a favorite fictional couple. The only couple that pops into my mind is Sookie Stackhouse and Bill Compton from The Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris.


Linky List:

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Review - 99 Fear Street: The House Of Evil: The Third Horror


176 pagers; Amazon
I originally planned on posting this review on 2nd of the month, but several things came up, so I delayed the review until today.

First published by Parachute Press in 1994, 99 Fear Street: The House Of Evil: The Third Horror by R.L. Stine picks up two years after the ending of the first installment. While absent from the second book, Kody Frasier is now an actress who is hired to play her sister Cally in a horror movie about the events that took place at 99 Fear Street.

Upon arriving at the house, Kody can feels the presence of her sister Cally, who is still in the ghostly realm inside the house. Playing the role of her sister in the film is a difficult thing to do, but it gave her an excuse to return to the house once more, so she can find away to say goodbye to Cally.

Shortly after production starts, several strange events occurs as well several accidents. Despite the setbacks, production of the film continues. However, the house is pure evil and it has other plans for everyone inside it.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Summer Reads: Can You Keep A Secret?: A Fear Street Novel


St. Martin's Giffin; 288 pages; $18.99; Amazon
During my middle school years in the early 1990s, I always had a Point Horror novel in my backpack. I was addicted to those horror stories and I just couldn't get enough of them. One of my favorite book series back then was called "Fear Street" written by R.L. Stine.

The series centered on a fictional town of Shadyside, Ohio, where the "Fear Street" was located at. Centuries ago, an evil man named Simon Fier (later changed to Fear) killed innocent souls on the land where Fear Street now lies, and the street just happens to be cursed.

Many of the "Fear Street" books are standalone stories; though there are a few spinoffs with continuing storylines, like 99 Fear Street; Cheerleaders; Fear Street Sagas, etc.. R.L. Stine revived the series in October 2014 with Party Games; followed by Don't Stay Up Late, and The Lost Girl.

Now available to purchase in bookstores from St. Martin's Griffin is the newest installment, titled Can You Keep A Secret?: A Fear Street Novel. The novel centers on Emmy (Emma), a high school teen who has suffered from nightmares ever since she was bitten by a dog when she was a little kid. As a teenager, she is into everything a girl her age should be into, like driving around town and hanging out with her new boyfriend, Eddie.

Ever since his step-father was suspended from the police department, Eddie has been trying to provide for his family; which means he takes any job he can get, including working at a pet cemetery.

Late one night, Eddie and Emmy head out to the Fear Street woods to hang out with their friends and drink beer. That's when they stumble upon a bag full of hundred-dollars bills. Eddie instantly believes this is the answer to his family's money problems, but Emmy convinces him to hide the money until they can figure out if someone had stolen it.

With the money hidden safely in the pet cemetery, Eddie, Emmy and their friends are going to wait it out before splitting the money. However, something terrible happens - the money disappears from the hiding spot. Did one of their friend's take it? Or has the original owner come back to claim the money?

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.