Monday, July 2, 2018

DVD Review - Scared to Death: Horror Movie Collection

Mill Creek Ent., 22 hrs 11 mins; $14.98

If you're wanting some scary movies to watch this summer, then look no further, as you can now own the DVD set Scared to Death: Horror Movie Collection from Mill Creek Entertainment, featuring a mix of slashers, monsters, and aliens on 4 discs.

Basically, it's a repackaging of three separate DVD releases (Queens of Scream, Possessed by Evil, and Monster Movie Mix), but with a new slipcover. Queens of Scream was released in 2016 and features the horror films "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Vacancy," "When A Stranger Calls," and "The Cave." Possessed by Evil was also released in 2016. It features five movies: "Devour," "The Plague," "Wind Chill," "Insanitarium," and "Vinyan."

Now I've already reviewed Queens of Screams and and Possessed by Evil back in 2016, so I'm not going to go into any further details about them. You can read my original reviews here: Queens of Scream * Possessed by Evil

I'm not for sure if Monster Movie Mix is a re-release or not, but it features a mixture of old movies and television shows.

The titles on the Monster Movie Mix are:

  • The Corpse Vanishes - A 1942 film starring Bela Lugosi as a mad scientist
  • Night Fright - A 1967 science fiction tale about a mutated alligator that turns into an ogre-like creature that terrorizes a small town.
  • Killers From Space - A 1954 science fiction film starring Peter Graves as a nuclear scientist who gets tangled up with aliens.
  • Destination Space - A 1959 made-for-television movie about the first rotating wheel space station.
  • The Passage Beyond - A 1951 episode of the "Lights Out" anthology series. This episode focuses on the ghost of Lady Anne.
  • Blunder - A 1951 episode of the "Tales of Tomorrow" anthology series. The episode centers on a scientist working on a nuclear reactor in the Arctic.
  • Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - A 1955 episode of the "Climax!" anthology series. It's just another adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale.
  • Tales of Frankenstein - An unsold 1958 television pilot co-produced by Hammer Film Productions and Columbia Pictures. The pilot centers on Baron Frankenstein (played by Anton Diffring) creating a new monster.
  • Verdict From Space - A 1951 episode of the "Tales of Tomorrow" anthology series. The episode centers on an inventor named Gordon Kent, who is on trial for murdering a scientist.
  • Flash Gordon: Return Of The Androids - A 1954 "Flash Gordon" episode, which centers on Flash Gordon trying to protect the secret location of the Androids.
  • Captain Z-Ro: Meteor - A 1956 episode of the children's television series Captain Z-Ro, which centers on the Captain testing out a new spaceship.
  • Johnny Jupiter - An "untitled episode" of the ABC's 1953-1954 series Johnny Jupiter, which centers on Duckweather, a young employee at a TV repair shop who gets advice from a magical TV set.


Final Thoughts

Secrets and Lies: Season One DVD Review

Mill Creek Ent., TV-14; 7 hours 7 minutes; $24.98

Back during my pre-teen and teenage years, I would watch almost any new television series. As I've gotten older, my interests have changed greatly; to the point that I hardly watch any programs that air on network television. Many of today's scripted series are poorly written and all the so-called reality shows don't appeal to me. So if there's a good series, normally, it goes completely under my radar, which exactly what happened with Secrets and Lies.

Based on the Australian series of the same name, Secrets and Lies is an anthology series that aired for two seasons on ABC from 2015 to 2016. Season One arrived on DVD for the first time from Mill Creek Entertainment last year, featuring 10 episodes on a two-disc set. There are no special features or extras on the DVD.

The first season begins with Ben Crawford (played by Ryan Phillippe), a self-employed contractor, who stumbles upon the body of a five-year-old boy while jogging through the woods early one morning. It turns out that the boy is Tom, the son of his neighbors, Jessica (played by Natalie Martinez) and her estranged husband Scott. With Ben suffering from memory loss from the night before, he becomes the prime suspect in Tom's death; especially, in the eyes of Detective Andrea Cornell (played by Juliette Lewis), who becomes obsessed with solving the case.

After DNA test results confirm that Ben is Tom's biological father, his wife Christy (played by KaDee Strickland) and their daughters, Natalie and Abby (played by Indiana Evans and Belle Shouse), along with the media, begin to believe he's the killer! With no other choice, Ben begins his own investigation in the hoping of clearing his name.


Final Thoughts

Friday, June 29, 2018

Book Blogger Hop: June 29th - July 5th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


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.


Do you have an Instagram account? If so, do you only follow book folks?

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:

Yes, I have an Instagram account (@coffeeramblings), but I don't follow very many "book folks."


Linky List:

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Release Day Tuesday: Big Hero 6: The Series - Back In Action! DVD


Yes, I'm well aware that today is Wednesday and not Tuesday. I meant to have this post published yesterday, but due to some computer issues, I'm just now posting it.

Anyway, Big Hero 6: The Series - Back In Action! arrived on DVD yesterday from Disney Home Entertainment, featuring the 44-minute Disney Channel Television Movie and six 22-minute episodes. Bonus features include 6 shorts - Baymax and Hiro; Baymax and Wasabi; Baymax and Go Go; Baymax and Fred; Baymax and Honey Lemon; and Baymax and Moch.



The adventures continue for tech genius Hiro Hamada and his healthcare companion, the lovable, inflatable Baymax! Picking up right before the end of the film, Hiro thinks Baymax is lost forever, until he finds the chip Tadashi designed to create Baymax. Hiro immediately gets to work rebuilding Baymax, but Hiro’s overconfidence and impatience get him into trouble. The stakes are raised for Hiro, Baymax and their friends – adrenaline junkie Go Go, control freak Wasabi, chem whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred – as they fight to protect San Fransokyo as the legendary superhero team Big Hero 6.
Voice Cast: Ryan Potter as Hiro; Scott Adsit as Baymax; Jamie Chung as Go Go; Genesis Rodriguez as Honey Lemon; Khary Payton as Wasabi; Brooks Wheelan as Fred; and Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass


Top Non-Touristy Destinations in Thailand That You Must Explore



Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations currently, It is known for its happening nightlife, economical shopping options, scrumptious foods, dense forests, diver wildlife and pristine beaches. That being said, what irks most travel enthusiasts is the little solitude for exploration in peace with so many tourists and over-crowded sights. Probably, the abundance of attractions in the country and that too at pocket friendly pricing attracts tourists in large numbers all around the year.

Fortunately, there is more to Thailand, than the popular Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket. There are some of the much more exotic and picturesque destinations in the country, that are hidden gems and are not as touristy. If you are a travel enthusiast and want to explore Thailand while you stay away from the bustle and crowd, here are a few great options that you should not miss out.

Koh Samui

Although the island has started to attract some tourist attention in the recent past, it is still not as crowded as Phuket or Pattaya. Most tourists that come here are either wealthy luxury travelers or solo travelers who are in search of some secluded relaxation. This keeps the overall atmosphere of the island more natural, calm and peaceful. Koh Samui is a beautiful island that is dominated by beautiful white sand beaches and dense rain forests.

Contrary to popular myth, it is not dull and boring and have many attractions and Samui Tours that you can pick and choose from. If you are looking for something beyond beaches, go explore the iconic Buddhist temples, the beautiful wild life parks or have the ziplining experience for some adrenaline rush.

Krabi

Just like Koh Samui, Krabi attracts a few visitors but they are much less in number compared to the neighboring Phuket. Again, most tourists that drop by Krabi are those who want to stay away from the noise and crowd in Phuket. If you do not have the time or budget to go to Samui, Krabi offers a good alternative. Krabi comprises of Ao Nang and Riley Beaches. If you are looking for something more whitish and exotic than Riley is a better option, although it is pricier of the two at the same time.

Koh Lipe

One of the more remote and a rather less explored islands, Koh Lipe is popularly known as the Maldives of Thailand. With its pearl white sand and lush green back drop, the island has little night life but exotic and lavish accommodation options that will give you a true beach experience. The island is so enthralling that it even attracts visitors from the nearby Malaysian islands for day trips or short stays just to experience the beauty that lies on this paradise.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Book Blogger Hop: June 22nd - 28th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


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 Danielle  @ PoetryBooksYA.


For all of you worker bees out there! How do you balance having a day job/career and managing your blog at night? Is it hard or easy to do, and what do people in your work life think of your blogs?

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'm horrible at managing my blog; especially this year! My mind has been elsewhere, so it takes me forever to finish writing one post.


Linky List:

A Study in Terror Blu-ray Review

Mill Creek Ent., 95 minutes; $14.95


Here are two facts about me that you probably didn't already know:

1. I'm a big fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.

2. I've always been fascinated with Jack the Ripper.

So, with that being said, I guess you can say I was looking forward to watching the underrated 1965 British thriller A Study in Terror, which was recently released on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment.

Directed by James Hill, the film stars John Neville and Donald Houston as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, the famous England Detective Duo who find themselves on the hunt for a madman, a.k.a Jack the Ripper!

With Scotland Yard baffled by the horrifying murders of several prostitutes, Sherlock makes it his personal quest to unravel the mystery after a strange package arrives at his Baker Street home. While Dr. Watson would prefer not to get tangled up in Jack the Ripper's legacy, he tags along with Sherlock through the dark alleys of nineteenth century London, where they stumble upon a world of aristocracy, blackmail, and terror!


Final Thoughts