The Hunger Games Motion Poster!

If you haven't seen it yet, then you have to check this baby out. What a beautiful motion poster for The Hunger Games! This really gets me excited for the movie. I just pray that the film lives up to the book!

Have You Heard the MUSE? Releases of the Week! (Jan. 17th)

Yes, it's that time of the week already! The bad news is, the list is short today. Other then a few young adult novels and a couple of movies, I think this is a great week to catch up on books and movies instead of worrying about going over your budget. You know why? Because NEXT Tuesday (24th) is a big release day so I'm warning you, get your book/movie budget together now! Just remember that these are my personal picks. So there may be other releases that are out that I haven't mentioned.

Other Thoughts: I also just wanted to let everyone know I will be posting some reviews soon. I sort of went on a mini-hiatus-- yeah I've been a bit burnt-out-- so expect some new reviews by the end of the week!

*NOTE* All books/movies/tv series are in order by release date

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BOOKS (Jan. 17th)

YOUNG ADULT

HALFLINGS
by: Heather Burch

Split. After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

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HALLOWED (Unearthly #2)
Cynthia Hand

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn’t prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

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NEVER EIGHTEEN
by: Megan Bostic

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go. But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

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MOVIES & TV SERIES (Jan. 17th)

MOVIES

ABDUCTION
Directed by: John Singleton

Starring: Taylor Lautner, Maria Bello, Sigourney Weaver
Taylor Lautner explodes on-screen as a young man whose secret past is set to collide with a dangerous reality. After uncovering a deadly lie, Nathan (Lautner) is propelled on a lethal, no-holds barred mission to learn the truth. Aided by a devoted family friend (Sigourney Weaver), Nathan’s hunt for the facts pits him against ruthless assassins and questionable allies.

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

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COURAGEOUS
Directed by: Alex Kendrick

Starring: Alex Kendrick, Kevin Downes
Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge they’re ill prepared to tackle: fatherhood. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Sherwood Pictures, creators of Fireproof, returns with this heartfelt, action-packed story. Protecting the streets is second nature to these law enforcement officers. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That takes courage.

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

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IDES OF MARCH
Directed by: George Clooney

Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney
Ambition seduces and power corrupts in a nerve-wracking thriller from Academy Award® nominated director George Clooney (Good Night, and Good Luck). Idealistic campaign worker Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) has sworn to give all for Governor Mike Morris (Clooney), a wild card presidential candidate whose groundbreaking ideas could change the political landscape. However, a brutal Ohio primary threatens to test Morris's integrity. Stephen gets trapped in the down-and-dirty battle and finds himself caught up in a scandal where the only path to survival is to play both sides. The all-star cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood.

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

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ROMEOS
Directed by: Sabine Bernardi

Starring: Rick Okon, Liv Lisa Fries, Maximilan Befort
A twist on trans stories – a 19-year-old pre-op FTM falls for an openly gay man in Romeos , a tautly told and sexily romantic drama. Lukas is a handsome young man but was born a woman, is on hormone replacement therapy, and still has breasts that he keeps bound and hidden. His new male life is complicated when he is frustratingly assigned to a female dorm while doing community service. Stressed by the unfamiliar surroundings and insecure with his new body, Lukas is aided his lesbian friend, Ine, who keeps his secret when he reenters the world as a man. Lured by Ine and his new friends, Lukas ventures into Cologne’s gay nightlife where he meets Fabio, a cocky, dark haired gay hunk who beds whom he pleases. The two opposites strike up a friendship, but when Fabio begins to make romantic moves, Lukas is forced into making a decision: end contact or tell him and face the consequences. Lukas’s courage to live his life as he desires makes this a great film for trans audiences but it is also is a revelatory one for gay men. It is in essence a sexy, entertaining, if unconventional, story of two young men who fall in love. (English and German with English subtitles)

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

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TV SERIES

MERLIN: Season 3
On: SyFy

Actors: Colin Morgan, Bradley James
Merlin is back with even more magic, adventure and romance as the young wizard struggles to protect Prince Arthur in the perilous world of Camelot. While battling deadly assassins, mystical monsters and the most powerful sorcerers Camelot has ever seen, Merlin must work harder than ever to conceal his unique abilities while King Uther redoubles his war against magic. Featuring exciting new villains, white-knuckle stunt sequences, and spectacular CGI monsters, Merlin season three is more thrilling than ever.

Date Released: 17 January 2012
Website | Buy

TV Calendar: My Picks For January 2012

Well, it's Sunday evening and I was just about to hop in the shower to get ready to watch the Golden Globes when I realized that January is usually the month when the winter schedule for TV shows start! Starting with the Golden Globe Awards, here is a list of shows I'm looking forward to seeing! I included the date, time, and channel as well as a brief synopsis for each. Enjoy!


GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
Sunday, Jan. 15th 8pm (NBC)

Multi-talented Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Ricky Gervais ("The Office," "The Ricky Gervais Show") returns for the third time as host of NBC's "The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards" on Sunday, January 15, 2012. This year's show will again be broadcast live coast to coast from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. (PT) and 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ET) from The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. "The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards" will be seen in more than 160 countries worldwide and is one of the few awards ceremonies that spans both television and motion picture achievements.

My Thoughts: I'm really looking forward to seeing who wins in some of these categories, especially best actor. I am a huge Michael Fassbender fan, and I also wish Brad Pitt luck since he is always the underdog. I'm hoping George Clooney doesn't walk away with the win but he is the crowd favorite. :(

WEBSITE

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ALCATRAZ (from the creator of LOST)
Monday, Jan. 16th, 8pm (FOX)

Years after every prisoner on Alcatraz mysteriously vanished, Detective Emerson Hauser and Rebecca Madsen are drawn into the case of Jack Sylvane, who is on a killing spree. They later find out that Sylvane was in fact one of the inmates on the prison, and joined by Alcatraz expert "Doc" Soto, Hauser and Madsen race to stop Sylvane and solve the mystery of Alcatraz.

My Thoughts: Not much to say, really. I never watched the insanely popular LOST (I know! Don't throw tomatoes at me!) I like JJ Abrams, so I guess we shall see what Alcatraz brings!

WEBSITE

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BEING HUMAN: Season 2 (US version)
Monday, Jan. 16th, 9pm (SyFy)

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED SEASON 1 YET! A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost, oh my! Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the first season, with Aidan trying to deal with the mess left behind by his now (fully) deceased mentor Bishop. This means looking out for the vampires Bishop had assembled for a secret army, and trying to protect them from the higher-up vampires. Josh and Nora are dealing with his wolfish condition in the wake of Nora’s miscarriage. And last season, Sally missed her door, which was to take her to the afterlife. This might mean she’s stuck in ghost-form and unable to move on indefinitely.

My Thoughts: I haven't finished watching season 1 of the US version but I am a huge fan of the UK/BBC version. Season 1 can be purchased HERE. Check out the BBC version which started it all HERE!

WEBSITE

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LOST GIRL (originally aired in Canada)
Monday, Jan. 16th, 10pm (SyFy)

Lost Girl follows supernatural seductress Bo, a Succubus who feeds on the sexual energy (sometimes called "chi") of humans. Growing up with human parents, Bo had no reason to believe she was anything other than the girl next door - until she drained her boyfriend to death in their first sexual encounter. Now, she has hit the road alone and afraid. She discovers she is one of the Fae, creatures of legend and folklore, who pass as humans while feeding off them secretly and in different ways, as they have for millennia. Relieved to find out that she is not alone, yet horrified, Bo decides to take the middle path between the humans and the Fae while embarking on a personal mission to unlock the secrets of her origin.

With the help of her human sidekick, Kenzi, and Dyson, a sexy Fae working as a human police detective, Bo takes on a challenge every week helping a Fae or human client who comes to her to solve a mystery, or to right a wrong.

My Thoughts: This show KICKS ASS! I watched a few episodes of it when it aired in Canada and I guess I wasn't the only one in the US that noticed how awesome this series is! Lost Girl also is kind of a ground breaker-- it's one of the first shows that features a bi-sexual female character. Yup, that's right! Bo is torn between her love for the sexy wolf shifter Dyson and the female doctor of the fae, Lauren.

WEBSITE

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JUSTIFIED: Season 3
Tuesday, Jan. 17th, 10pm FX

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED SEASONS 1 and 2!

This season, Boyd and his crew will find they aren’t the only ones making a play to rule the Harlan underworld. Now Raylan finds himself facing off against dirty politicians, hidden fortunes, a mysterious man named “Limehouse” and an enterprising and lethal criminal from the Motor City.

My Thoughts: Justified is one of my favorite shows. I absolutely have the hots for Timothy Olyphant who plays deputy Marshall Raylan Givens. You can buy seasons 1 HERE and 2 HERE. Also, check out the website for more info!

WEBSITE

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SPARTACUS: Season 2
Friday, Jan. 27th, 10pm (STARZ)

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED SEASON 1 or the prequel! After the bloody escape from the House of Batiatus that concluded Spartacus: Blood and Sand, the gladiator rebellion begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic in Spartacus: Vengeance. Legatus Claudius Glaber and his Roman troops are sent to Capua to crush Spartacus' growing band of freed slaves before they can inflict further damage. Spartacus is given a choice between satisfying his personal need for vengeance against the man who condemned his wife to slavery and eventual death, or making the larger sacrifices necessary to keep his budding army from breaking apart. Advance word suggests that this sequel will continue the blood-soaked action, exotic sexuality, villainy, and heroism that characterized Spartacus: Blood and Sand.


My Thoughts: I'm nervous about season 2, I won't even lie! Since STARZ had to replace the main lead after the tragic death of Andy Whitfield (see my blog post about it HERE), I worry that the new Spartacus, played by Liam McIntyre, may not be able to bring the spark that Andy did. I've watched several of the season 2 trailers and...I don't know. I'm going to try to be open-minded and give this guy a chance!

WEBSITE

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Other Thoughts: Walking Dead Returns February 12th! Can't Wait!

COVER ART FRIDAY!

Hi, everyone! I decided that I would make a post every week and call it "Cover Art Friday!" Since my blog covers books, movies, and tv series, I will be showing cover art from any or all of these categories, depending on what's on my mind or what has just been unveiled.

Today's cover art actually has a theme! Can you guess what it is??? If you guessed Immortals, then you are right! Check out what I think about the cover art for Julie Kagawa's upcoming new YA novel called The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) and the US blu-ray/dvd cover art for Tarsem Singh's Immortals below.

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High off the success of her Iron Fey series, Julie Kagawa will be sweeping us into an entirely different series called Blood of Eden. The Immortal Rules, book 1 will be released on April 24th. So what do I think of the book's cover art? It's not bad and it's not a surprise. If you check out any of her Iron Fey books (specifically Iron King, Iron Daughter, and Iron Queen), the covers are similar in that each cover showcases a female's face. I won't lie, I am a little disappointed, BUT, thanks to my long talks with Simone Elkeles, the NY Times and USA Today's bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series, she told me that authors don't really get much of a choice when it comes to the cover art of their books. So I won't hate on Kagawa. It's not a BAD cover; I've seen much worse! Check out the synopsis for The Immortal Rules on goodreads!








From the producers of 300 and the director of The Cell and The Fall, Immortals is one BAD ASS movie! The film was absolutely beautiful to watch on top of tons of action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Mickey Rourke was chilling as the villainous Hyperion. Oh, and the gods? *heart stutters* Um, yeah, say goodbye to the gods of old! Zeus and Poseidon were drool worthy! Okay, okay, I'm supposed to be talking about the US blu-ray/dvd cover art. Umm...yeah, can I say, underwhelmed?? There were soooo many good posters released before and during its movie run in theaters so why in the hell did they take a short cut with this uninspiring cover art? The UK cover, which you can see HERE is way better! Oh, well! Look for Immortals on blu-ray and dvd March 6th!

Have You Heard the MUSE?? Releases of the Week! (Jan. 3-10th)

As some of you may or may not know, books, movies, and tv series are normally released on Tuesdays. Occasionally you may have a book or movie that is released a few days later. Since I can get a wee bit carried away when it comes to buying these goodies, I actually make myself a list of upcoming titles to help me budget my money. Since I love informing others about books, movies, etc., I decided that each week I am going to post a list of new releases. This post is going to be a little longer than normal since I missed posting last week's picks, and trust me, there were some really cool titles that you don't want to miss out on!

*NOTE* All books/movies/tv series are in order by release date

BOOKS (Jan. 1-10th)

ADULT


All That Bleeds (Etherlin #1)
by: Kimberly Frost

As the last heiress of the House of North, Alissa knows that striking up a secret friendship with a half-vampire enforcer is dangerous, but Merrick is a temptation she can't resist. But when Alissa is kidnapped, Merrick proves that he will do anything to protect the woman who tempts him with her very existence.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | Buy

Born of Ashes (Guardians of Ascension #4)
by: Caris Roane

Enter a hidden world of winged vampire warriors—and the women they are sworn protect…

For years, she was kept as a human slave—one of seven unwilling “blood donors” for the death vampires who thirst for absolute power. Now, Fiona is a free woman, haunted by her memories of being strapped to a gurney, drained of blood, then revived at the last moment. She lives to avenge her captors—but only one warrior can help her…

Jean-Pierre has lived and fought for over two-hundred years. He knows the triumph of slaying a death vampire, but has never known anything like the feelings that arise when he becomes Fiona’s guardian. Her beauty, her pain, her passion—and her growing power—consume his senses. Now the warrior must draw his sword once more…and fight the gates of hell itself—for love.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | Buy

YOUNG ADULT


The Storyteller
By: Antonia Michaelis

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?

Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.

Date Released: 1 January 2012
Website | Buy

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
by: Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | Buy

Cracked
By: K.M. Walton

In this gripping debut, a teen takes a bottle of pills and lands in the psych ward with the bully who drove him to attempt suicide.

Victor hates his life. He’s relentlessly bullied at school and his parents constantly ridicule him at home.

Bull is angry. He’s sick of his grandfather’s drunken beatings. And he likes to take out his rage on Victor.

Determined to end it all, Victor takes a bottle of his mother’s sleeping pills—only to be disappointed when he wakes up in the psych ward. And his roommate? None other than Bull, whose loaded-gun effort at self-defense has been labeled as a suicide attempt. Things go from bad to worse—until the boys discover they might just have something in common: a reason to live.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | Buy

Don't Breathe A Word
By: Holly Cupala

Joy Delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.

To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—a world she won’t easily let go.

Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s power­ful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | Buy

Under the Never Sky
By: Veronica Rossi

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | Buy

Run (Subject Seven #2)
By: James A. Moore

In this sexy, action-packed follow-up to Subject Seven, the Failures are on the road and heading toward Evelyn Hope. According to Joe Bronx, Evelyn is the only one with the answers that can save them.

Meanwhile, the Successes are preparing for attack. And this time, they won't stop until they annihilate the Failures. But the Failures have another enemy: themselves. They're physically destroying their human alter egos each time they mutate. There can be only one group of survivors in this epic battle - and the humans don't seem to stand a chance.

Date Released: 3 January 2012

Website | Buy

A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2)
By: Beth Revis

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Date Released: 10 January 2012
Website | Buy

The Fault in Our Stars
By: John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Date Released: 10 January 2012
Website | Buy

MOVIES & TV SERIES (Jan. 3-10)

MOVIES

Contagion
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Actors: Ma tt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet

A thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak. When Beth (Paltrow) returns from a business trip to Hong Kong, she brings a virus with her that spreads across the world, attracting the attention of people at the Centers for Disease Control (Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, and Jennifer Ehle) and the World Health Organization (Marion Cotillard). Just as virologists frantically try to track down the origins of the pathogen and to find a cure, it starts to mutate, foiling every move they make.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | blu-ray | dvd

Killer Elite Directed by: Gary McKendry

Actors: Jason Statham, Robert De Niro, Clive Owen

Jason Statham (The Italian Job), Academy Award® nominee Clive Owen (Inside Man) and Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) star in Killer Elite, "one of the best action thrillers of the year!" (Richard Roeper) When two of the world's most elite operatives -- Danny, a retired contract killer (Statham), and Hunter, his longtime mentor (De Niro) -- go up against the cunning leader of a secret military society (Owen), their hunt takes them around the globe from Australia to Paris, London, and the Middle East. As the stakes rise along with the body count, Danny and Hunter are soon plunged into an action-packed game of cat-and-mouse where no one is what they seem. Based on a shocking true story, it's an explosive, no-mercy thrill ride where the predator ultimately becomes the prey.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | blu-ray | dvd

Moneyball
Directed by: Bennett Miller

Actors: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) challenges the system and defies conventional wisdom when his is forced to rebuild his small-market team on a limited budget. Despite opposition from the old guard, the media, fans and their own field manager (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Beane - with the help of a young, number-crunching, Yale-educated economist (Jonah Hill) - develops a roster of misfits…and along the way, forever changes the way the game is played.

Date Released: 10 January 2012
Website | blu-ray | dvd

There Be Dragons
Directed by: Roland Joffe

Actors: Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Olga Kurylenko

Arising out of the horror of the Spanish Civil War, a candidate for canonization is investigated by a journalist who discovers his own estranged father had a deep, dark and devastating connection to the saint's life.

Date Released: 10 January 2012
Website | blu-ray | dvd

TV SERIES


Justified: Season 2
On: FX

Actors: Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins

Old-school U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is reassigned from Miami to his childhood home in the poor, rural coal-mining towns in Eastern Kentucky. In the aftermath of the deadly showdown that freed Harlan County from the Crowder family crime reign, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens must now take on even greater criminal forces looking to seize power - including hellbent nemesis Boyd Crowder and the arrival of brutal, new adversary Mags Bennett (Emmy® Winner Margo Martindale). Filled with treacherous twists at every turn... the second season of "Justified" proves "spectacularly entertaining" (TV Guide) and has established itself as a show for the ages.

Date Released: 3 January 2012
Website | blu-ray | dvd

Boardwalk Empire: Season 1
On: HBO

Actors: Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt

From Terence Winter (Emmy®-winning writer on HBO's The Sopranos) and Oscar®-winning director Martin Scorsese, Boardwalk Empire is set in Atlantic City in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition. The series chronicles the life and times of Enoch Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the city treasurer whose double role as politician and bootlegger makes him the city's undisputed czar at a time when illegal alcohol has opened up highly lucrative opportunities for rumrunners and distributors. In a city defined by notorious backroom politics and vicious power struggles, Nucky must contend with ambitious underlings, relentless Feds, rival gangsters -- including Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano and Al Capone -- and his own appetite for women, profits, and power.

Date Released: 10 January 2012
Website | blu-ray |dvd

Movie Review: Moneyball

Movie Title: Moneyball
Director: Bennett Miller
Actor(s): Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill
Language: English
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Theme: Baseball, based on a true story
Run Time: 133 mins
DVD Release Date: 10 January 2012
Buy: amazon.com
My Rating:


Synopsis (Amazon): Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) challenges the system and defies conventional wisdom when his is forced to rebuild his small-market team on a limited budget. Despite opposition from the old guard, the media, fans and their own field manager (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Beane - with the help of a young, number-crunching, Yale-educated economist (Jonah Hill) - develops a roster of misfits…and along the way, forever changes the way the game is played.

**The Following Review May Contain SPOILERS**

My Review: I saw a review somewhere on Amazon that said, "...you've got to LOVE baseball to like this movie." I am still trying to figure out if that is true. Here is the deal. I went into watching this movie because:

1) Brad Pitt is in it and despite all the annoying attention he gets because he is Angelina's other half, he is one of the most under-rated actors out there.
2) I love a good drama, especially about underdogs.
3) Oscar Buzz (yes, it's that time of year)

Am I a fan of baseball? No. Actually, it's probably one of my least favorite sports and I know the bare minimum when it comes to the positions, rules, teams, players, etc. Other then watching a baseball school game or when my dad and brother have it turned on (they are big fans), I don't think I've ever watched a baseball game all the way through, from beginning to end.

That being said, here are my thoughts, starting with Brad. Do I think this was his best performance? No, but I think this was one of his BETTER performances. Pitt's character definitely had me convinced that he was Billy Beane, the stretched out GM of the Oakland Atlantics. I could feel his frustration with every sudden outburst he had on screen. One of the more tender moments had nothing to do with baseball-- it was when he was sitting in the music store with his daughter, watching her play the guitar and convincing her to sing out loud. The lyrics of the song comes full circle in the end. You'll see what I mean.

Now to the movie itself. I was worried first going into it because again, I don't know much about baseball. I was right to be worried because I will admit, there were some parts that I didn't understand. I would get the general idea, but not the full concept or importance of some of the business talk in the film. For example, when Billy and Peter (Jonah Hill's character) are trading players over the phone, it was a bit confusing. While it was supposed to be serious, I think it also was meant to be a bit comical, which I missed out on because of my lack of knowledge. My responses were prompted by their facial expressions or the air pumping of their fists.

That being said, I liked Moneyball because it leaned more towards a character driven drama then a classic baseball tale. And because of this, I can appreciate the film from that aspect. This is why some hardcore baseball fans found the movie boring. They were going into it expecting tons of baseball action. They were expecting the film to focus more on shots of the players in the locker room to the drama out on the field. Instead, the camera rarely leaves Billy Beane's world. Even when he and Peter finally get the players they think will change the game to sign on, we don't get to see the players actually play for quite awhile. And when the games ARE going on, the camera follows Billy around as he works out his anxiety in the gym room (apparently, Billy Beane did not actually watch most of the games for fear of bad luck).

I don't think you have to LOVE baseball to like the movie. I think you have to have a basic understanding of the sport to fully appreciate what it is trying to accomplish, and also go into it knowing that this is not your traditional baseball movie. The movie is not filled with 15-20 minute chunks of baseball in action. You're more likely to see a few 2 minutes clips of the real footage (the movie is based on a true story after all) throughout the film and then some short scenes of players actually playing the game.

Overall, Moneyball was a good, solid drama. While I had a little bit of trouble following the baseball politics, I did understand in general what Billy Beane was trying to do for his underdog team and change the way people look at the sport. Like Jonah Hill's character says in the beginning, GM goals shouldn't be about buying players. It should be about buying wins. Speaking of Jonah Hill, I was pleasantly surprised by his humble, serious performance. He normally plays in comedies, so I give him and whoever gave him a shot for the role major kudos. As a matter of fact, I think the acting is one of the biggest strengths of this movie. Philip Seymour Hoffman had a small part but hell, he is so good at being a chameleon that I didn't even realize it was him at first.

If there was one thing I would've added to give Moneyball a 5 star rating, instead of 4, it would be more scenes of the "misfit" players Billy Beane hires. Most of the people in Billy's tight circle absolutely detest his decisions for hiring these specific players, especially Philip Seymour Hoffman's character that refuses to even put them in the positions Billy hires them for. I just would have liked some more scenes maybe about their backgrounds, their frustrations, etc. It would have added a little more pull on the heartstrings.

Do I think the movie is Oscar worthy? For a nomination, definitely. For the win, not so sure. Do I think Brad should be nominated? Yes! Win? It was a solid, convincing performance. Until I view some of the other leads, I will just leave it at that!

Moneyball will be available on dvd and blu-ray on Tuesday, Jan. 10th!

~Mia~

Other thoughts: I look forward to seeing Brad Pitt in the highly anticipated novel-turning-into-a movie World War Z hitting theaters in December 2012.

TV Series News: The Tribe Finally Gets a US DVD Release Date!

"If we're gonna survive, the dream must stay alive." -- lyric from The Tribe theme song

That's right, Tribe fans in North America! The dream we've all been waiting for is finally coming true. Well, sort of. I've just learned that The Tribe, Season One will be released in the US on March 13th! Check out the dvd cover art to the left! (I love it, although is it just me or does Bray's face look a little...funny?)

But here's the catch: it's only Season 1, VOLUME 1, the first 26 episodes on 4 discs! *bangs head on desk* I know, I know, beggars can't be choosers, so I guess we just have to be happy with what we can get! Plus, from the sources I've been checking out, there is a good chance that all 5 seasons of the cult, post-apocalyptic young adult series will be eventually put on dvd in the US! The studio behind the dvd boxset production is Shout! Factory, which is also responsible for releasing such cult favorites as My So-Called Life: Complete Series and Jem and the Holograms: The Truly Outrageous Complete Series.

So...umm, what is The Tribe?

If you've been living under a rock and have never heard of the hit show from New Zealand, here is a quick little synopsis. A virus hits earth. Mysteriously killing all adults over the age of 18, children and teens are left to fend for themselves in a world left in shambles. With hardly any technology, electricity, and food sources, children start forming "tribes" in order to survive. Some tribes are good, like the "Mallrats" while others grow strength by feeding on the weak, such as the "Locos" and "Demon Dogs".

The Tribe ran for 5 glorious seasons, each season running for a massive 52 episodes. The controversial series surprisingly aired on the Disney channel several years ago, which is how the show grew such a large fan base in North America. It touched on many subjects, such as teen pregnancy, eating disorders, physical handicaps, etc. I think it was one of my greatest childhood memories...well, okay, I guess I was more of a *clears throat* teenager just out of high school that used to watch the show, but don't judge! My best friend Adria at Neverend can verify The Tribe's very addictive storylines! It was like our guilty pleasure....a soap opera for kids. With lots of hot, dreamy guys. Like Bray (although that picture above doesn't do him justice!) and Lex and Pride... *drools* I used to love tuning in every day to see if their outfits had changed....ya know, when you are in a tribe, you get to wear face paint and...well, watch it for yourself! You'll see!

March 13th seems like such a long time to wait for season 1, volume 1...and then we have to wait some more for volume 2...But it can be done! We will persevere! I promise to give everyone an update/review of the dvd boxset once it is in my hands. I have no idea if there will be any kind of special features included. I know the region 2 boxsets were filled with interviews and behind-the scenes-footage. I got a feeling that won't be the case for the US edition. You can pre-order your copy at Shout! Factory or Amazon.com! For those of you who want more info on the show like episode guides, photos, trailer videos, go to The Tribe's official site at Tribeworld!

Keeping the Dream Alive,

~~Mia~~