The Hobbit 3: The Battle of the Five Armies

The Hobbit 3: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I can't say I understand why The Hobbit took 3 separate movies when each of the LOTR books is much longer as was fit in one film each (even if the extended editions are beyond epic and the final movie had about 3 "conclusions" in it). If anything, it made it feel like it was drawn out more than it should have been, especially since this last film is little more than dwarf stubbornness and a lot of fighting. Seems like a silly reason to die after everything else that they've been through. Also did get some amusement out of the elf, Thranduil, riding the Elven Elk (which looked more like a huge moose).

The Hunger Games 3: Mockingjay Part 1

The Hunger Games 3: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


We weren't incredibly interested in seeing this one "on time" given it's part one of two, and you have to wait another year for the ending. This first part, while sometimes rather dramatic, is very slow in it's pace. Likely this is because, being part 1 of 2, it is primarily meant to set the stage for the ending rather than really being it's own stand alone film. We'll likely re-watch this just before the sequel comes out and see if that helps with the attention span and draw any, or if it at least does help set up things in the final film.

House of Mouse

House of Mouse (2001)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mickey and the other original Disney characters host a comedy house that shows various classic short films and skits to entertain an audience full of various characters from all the Disney films (Ariel, Beast, Snow White, Timon, Pumba, Hades, Jafar, etc). There are even certain nights that are dedicated to the villains instead of the heroes, especially as Stinky Pete and other would be billionaires (like Scrooge) attempt to take all the profit out of the House of Mouse or risk closing it down. Overall it's a random series of comedic entertainment that is perfect for small children as it doesn't require a long attention span and hosts a large variety of characters for them to play with.

MasterChef Junior

MasterChef Junior (2013)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I had heard of this show only when one of the winners guest starred on the more popular MasterChef, but had yet to see any of it. Just our luck that we came across the finale cook off when looking for something interesting to watch one evening. It's amazing what these young chefs come up with, especially given they have no guidance or help throughout the program. Not sure if that makes it more or less thrilling than the full fledged version given there are obvious limitations to what these young chefs can do at the moment. Maybe if they were moving on to restaurants or other jobs after the show it would make more sense. Until then, it's just kind of an impressive placeholder.

Tarzan II

Tarzan II (2005)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Despite being labeled as a sequel, this is actually more of a prequel to the original Tarzan. A young Tarzan sees just how different he is from his family. After an accident separates them, he chooses to go off on his own rather than rejoin them as he tries to discover just what he is exactly. Would have been better off just letting his mom know he survived, but that would have cut out the entire purpose of the film. Lesson learned.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


A rather strange senior musical is written by the students themselves as the Wildcats and the main duo struggle to stay together while knowing they're  all going their own separate ways for college. Of course it comes down to some creative maneuvers and a lot of music for everything to come together for the cast.

High School Musical 2

High School Musical 2 (2007)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Insanity and stupid teenage decisions abound as the kids are out for the summer and all working at Sharpay's family Country Club. Problem being that Sharpay has her eyes set on Troy, and is not above underhanded "employer" tricks to separate him from Gabriella and his friends. Good thing his friends have his back or he might not be able to make things right by the end, in a rather dramatic and spectacularly musical fashion.

High School Musical 1

High School Musical 1 (2006)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Not the most riveting of story lines, but the music is good. This was a plus since I have a certain little two-year-old in my house that thrives on music, so she got a kick out of that. Threw me for a loop to recognize Zac Effron as the lead singer/dancer from Hairspray, though he looks drastically different in the two parts. You can recognize him by his eyes and his voice if you're paying attention though; and it likely didn't hurt that we had just watched Hairspray before turning this on.

Tales of Xillia 2

Tales of Xillia 2 (Playstation 3)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


After how much we enjoyed Tales of Xillia, we could hardly wait for the sequel to be released. There are similarities and differences this time around as we follow Ludger through a new story. He teams up with the original cast eventually, so you get a lot of screen time with familiar characters you already love. There are some new additions and twists to it though. The artes web has changed, as have some of the battle modes, which make things a little more interesting. You don't pay to level up shops, but the shops level themselves with each new zone and you can "custom create" new items using materials found in quests and/or purchased. The really annoying part of the game is the inflated debt imposed on you in the very beginning of the game. Supposedly it is possible to pay off completely, though we've yet to manage it (this means you may end up having to do a lot of farming beyond just finishing the job boards when they fill up to pay it off). You also have to find 100 cats throughout the game, most of which are fairly easy to find as long as you remember there is one in pretty much every territory you visit, including some of the alternate dimensions. You can't entirely finish the cat quest until the very last arc of the game though, which takes you to another land entirely (kind of like the Dimensional Breech in the first game). Overall, there is a lot more added into this game to keep it going with different variables throughout.

The Flash

The Flash (2014)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


The Flash is another DC Comics adaptation that originated when Barry visited Oliver in Arrow. The two shows continue to crossover with one character visiting the other for information or the occasional help on a case. Could add to some confusion if you don't happen to follow both series. Most fans of one probably enjoy the other however, and having the two run in tandem makes for a more special treat.

Marry Poppins

Mary Poppins (1964)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


It's been ages since I watched this film. In fact, the last time I saw anything regarding the story line was when we saw the musical and I was pregnant with our daughter back in 2011. There are several songs from the film however, that are in my sing-a-long playlist that Mercy and I often listen to. This was her first time seeing it, which was entertaining to say the least. It's also interesting to compare the filming style to more recent movies and how special effects have changed. Despite the obvious green screen work and combined live action with animation, this film stays a wonderful bit of family fun that everyone should see at least once. Wouldn't surprise me in the least to see it several more times in the near future as Mercy grows up.

Catch A Contractor

Catch A Contractor (2014)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It would seem there are a lot of people out there either doing work they aren't licensed/certified for or just don't care to do the job right. Too busy cutting corners to pay attention to what they produce I suppose. This show focuses on a trio who is all about cornering these "contractors" live and giving them 3 options:

1. Return to the job under their supervision to re-do/complete it correctly.
2. Return the money they took for the safety hazard they called "work" in the first place.
3. Face the trio and the family they stole from in court, risking losing more than just the cost of the job in the first place.

Obviously most pick option one. The last episode we watched, a mouse of a man that couldn't seem to string two sentences together literally walked out on the re-do job. As a result, the new team redid the job on their own and the family is now taking the original contractor to court. Not a fun way to have to go about things, but on the plus side a bad dealer is exposed in a way that can spread his name to warn others away and the family did get the job done correctly so they now can live safely at home. It is interesting to watch how these people try to squirm and make excuses, often claiming that the family "still owes them money" when the job obviously wasn't complete in the first place and is often 90-100% paid (which is one of the first mistakes these people make). The before and after comparisons are always especially interesting and nice to see. Good work is beautiful when it's done correctly (which I guess would be the definition of "good" in this case).

Gotham

Gotham (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Commissioner James Gordon had to start somewhere on the Gotham police force. This series largely focuses on his story and just how dirty Gotham was even before he and Batman joined forces. Bruce Wayne is young and newly orphaned, trying to make sense of Gotham's political climate and how it's police force works as he tries to solve the mystery behind his parents murder. Many other familiar names are tossed into the works - Cat Woman, Two Face, Riddler, Poison Ivy, and others can all be recognized by their original younger identities before they become Batman's nemesis. Not as thrilling of a story line, but still interesting and worth some amusement if you like Batman in general.

Merry Gentry 9: A Shiver of Light

Merry Gentry 9: A Shiver of Light by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Well, talk about disappointing while also somewhat expected given what has happened in the Anita Blake series. This book is lots of gratuitous sex scenes that "aren't actually sex" because Merry is still banned from that by her doctors postpartum. The twins are in fact triplets, yet Merry is not constantly sleep deprived from breastfeeding the three that apparently are super powered faerie babies on top of having multiple father each (don't even try to figure that one out; it will just make you're head hurt). Instead, she takes walks around the estate, talks to her aunt, gets trapped in dreams with Taranis, and takes breaks with her lovers while unknown other people take care of her special children, one of which supposedly must have only her milk because she can't handle anything man made. Yeah... that makes sense... not.

On top of this, a large portion of the book is spent on physical descriptions and re-hashing the reasons behind the babies names, how to pronounce them, and what they mean. Seriously, that information is only needed once, if that. Over and over each chapter throughout the entire book? No thanks. This book could easily be cut down to half or less of it's actual length.

Of all the interludes with her many lovers, the most touching is of course the last one with Sholto. It must be that way since of course he has to be killed just after the encounter. Of all the men to choose to kill, Sholto would not have been my first choice. On top of this, we learn Frost is apparently now mortal and Doyle is having a breakdown because it appears both Merry and Frost will now die before him.

So in a nutshell, lots of emotions, very unrealistic situations and character death. If anything, I'm rather relieved that I never really loved this series as much as my other favorites, so while the 5 year hiatus was annoying, overall I felt rather indifferent about it. Otherwise this book would have been an even bigger disappointment then it already is.

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Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson

Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I had already read most, if not all, of the previously released short stories. That didn't stop me from enjoying reading them again. As a bonus, each story has a short introduction that helps you place where in the series that bit fits in, making it all the more enjoyable since the pieces don't feel as random as some short stories occasionally do. Very few actually even mentioned Mercy, let alone had her in them. While this is somewhat sad given that the stories are in her universe and she is the main character, it's refreshing to get some details and inside looks at some of the other characters we see her interact with. If anything, I rather enjoyed the variety found in this story as it takes us clear back to Bran and Samuel's Change, clear up to current events with Mercy's near death. If anything, the stories are too short as they leave you wanting more. Definitely one to add to the collection for any fan of the series.

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In Death 39: Festive in Death

In Death 39: Festive in Death by J.D. Robb

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Eve and Roarke are always a lot of fun and nice change of pace from a lot of my other books. This story was no different. It's always fun to see how Eve fights the holidays especially. This time, she seemed to actually get in the swing of things a little bit. Looks like our favorite cop might be adjusting to married life and being social more than she thinks. On the other hand, Eve also seemed off with her focus being more on the holidays than on her murder investigation. The only reason it really came together on time was because Roarke understands how she works and insisted it was okay to change their holiday plans to close the case. A bit of a role reversal in that. There also wasn't as much of Roarke's involvement in the case this time around either, though he did step in more towards the end of the book. The interaction between Roarke and Eve seemed to go more towards the festive and emotional side this time around rather than purely focused on attraction, which was a nice change of pace. Peabody remained much the same as she's usually bubbly and happy over the holidays. I don't know if it was the lack of drive feeling in the case that made it feel off or because the victim was just so generally unlikable that there wasn't the burning desire for justice that comes from her more innocent and straight forward cases. Even the dream sequence was different where it showed Eve more about her own subconscious than about how the case should have come together like it normally does. I can't decide yet if I like the difference or not... suppose I'll have to wait and see if this newly adjusting Eve is consistent with the next book or not.

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Vampire Academy 4: Blood Promise

Vampire Academy 4: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Alright, so I had to re-read this one to finish off the original series again and have a full review for each book. I still thoroughly enjoy this series and love having more Rose/Dimitri moments, but this book falls a little short comparatively speaking. Rose does not have her essential spark and bravado this time around. In contrast she almost seems like a carpet waiting to be walked over by everyone and being forced into things by her circumstances instead of trying to take control herself as she usually would. This contrast alone is rather disappointing. Dimitri is surprising in the opposite way - he is not at all what is expected of a strigoi. Granted, he very obviously does not think of anything with emotion as any of the other species in the series would (as evident by his answer to Rose towards the end of the book). Still, he does appear to retain a lot of his original personality through his change, which is surprising. Of course it isn't enough for Rose to just face him once. Instead it has to drag on, torturing her emotionally and thinking she finally succeeded in her mission only to learn she failed and there might be another answer than killing her love. While all this is going on, Lissa completely falls apart without Rose there, losing control of her power and letting Avery nearly destroy her if not for Rose's intervention (clear from Russia no less). This story is just all sorts of a convoluted mess that needs a lot of straightening out.

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Vampire Academy: Bloodlines 5: Silver Shadows

Vampire Academy: Bloodlines 5: Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This would have a higher rating except for the sheer amount of the book that is nothing but repetitive torture and Adrian sulking. We've seen the party scene, we've seen him make a fool of himself with the ladies, we've seen him drive himself crazy with spirit... I really hoped he would have stayed more focused and disciplined in his search for Sydney. Granted there was a long period there where she was tortured and he literally could not have found her regardless, but so much of that time was literally spent with her in the dark that it could have been skipped. Similarly, there were a lot of repetitive expectations in the final chase - reach a location and expect to be found by Alchemists asap... predictable. What was not predictable and made the entire book worthwhile was the whirlwind wedding. A little surprise Rose managed to hold her tongue through the entire Court scene, and at Lissa's reluctance given their previous close relationships with Adrian. Also a little disappointed that neither of them ever thought it possible that was why Adrian was asking to help Syndey in the first place. Granted Dimitri left before things really got going, but he was there for part of it to at least see Sydney wasn't as rigid as other Alchemist tended to be. It also would have been nice to have seen what Sydney's co-captives might have had to say to her after their release - especially after finding Chantal for Duncan. Now it's right back into the fray with Jill missing, only Adrian and Sydney can't be part of the rescue mission. Guess that "safe haven" might have come at an even higher price than they already thought.

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Barbie 28: The Secret Door

Barbie 28: The Secret Door (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


They seem to be using the faerie and mermaid themes a lot lately. This film combined the two. While it was an interested twist on the idea of the Secret Garden story, the music and dancing in this film was bar far less appealing than the previous films. The antagonists for the story is also very highly annoying. What a whiny little brat (literally). Made me want to give her a spanking and put her in time out. The parents certainly didn't help matters any as shown by their demeanor upon their return at the end of the movie. Enabling entitlement - wonderful. Seriously didn't get why the trolls didn't do something, especially since the one with glasses was supposedly "in charge" of the little trouble maker. They didn't appear to have any magic to steal, and there were certainly far more of them than of the brat. Stop acting like lap dogs and do something instead!

Southern Vampires 13.5: After Dead

Southern Vampires 13.5: After Dead by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


To sell this as a "book," especially at full hardback pricing, is laughable. This is literally a collection of short snippets (sometimes literally as short as a single sentence or as long as maybe a handful of sentences) to describe the "ending" of each character in the book A-Z (by last name where applicable). The majority of these endings either involve the characters death or the death of someone close to them - cheery. As unsatisfying as the actual ending of the series was, it was still a far cry better than this drivel. Don't waste either the time or the money. It's not worth the read or the cost as it takes minimal effort to scan it. You'd be better off just looking up the characters you really care about in a library copy if you're that desperate to know their horrible fates (as the term "happily ever after" is the farthest from the truth here).

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The Noble Dead 12: A Wind in the Night

The Noble Dead 12: A Wind in the Night by Barb Hendee

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I hate to admit it, but the farther into this series I get, the less it holds my attention. This is especially obvious by how much longer it takes me to finish the books. I actually stepped away from this one for several months. The only reason I came back to it was because I hate leaving books unfinished... not because I really was interested in how it ends. Part of it I think is because of how disjointed it feels with the story being essentially two separate stories in one, even though they are both working for the same goal. Switching back and forth between Wynn's and Margerie's groups makes it harder to follow and not as engaging as a whole. Hopefully with only one orb left, the groups may be rejoining in the near future and this problem will be eliminated. Of all the characters though, I found Osha's to be the most compelling this time around and wished there especially would have been more interaction between him and Wynn. Something else to hope for in the next book I suppose.

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Professor Layton 5: The Miracle Mask

Professor Layton 5: The Miracle Mask (Nintendo 3DS)

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars


It's interesting how the newer games seem to go back to Professor Layton's history more than moving things forward. Seems a little backwards in order, but is also nice since it fills in some gaps with characters and where villains originally come into play that was otherwise missing. The puzzles get even more complex with the 3-D effects, requiring all sorts of tilting screens and puzzle thinking to solve. The different map style took a little getting used to as well, but on a whole it's still very familiar and of course, lots of fun. Now to straighten out my game codes and finish the other games in the series to make sure I have all the fun completely unlocked. :3

Maeve'ra 1: Bloodwitch

Maeve'ra 1: Bloodwitch by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's interesting going back to the beginning of Midnight with this series. I loved Jaguar in Midnight Predator, so it was nice to see him again. Jeshika played in interesting role as both part of the main crew yet often being off to the side until the end of the story. Vance is very slow to start analyzing his world, though I suppose that's somewhat understandable given it is what he was raised to consider "normal" until his surroundings started changing again. It will be interesting to see if we learn anything more of Alasdair in this new trilogy, and how that fits in to the Serpiente and Avian lore we learned in the Kiesha'ra series. Obsidian seems like an interesting idea given the current climate between all the clans. There is a lot of potential set up well despite the shorter style of books. Anything longer might not have held attention as well, especially considering the genre. Still, would have liked to have seen some more details and fleshing out of the story overall. A lot feels like it is missed due to the entire story being from Vance's point of view - it's obvious he misses a lot going on around him, especially in the beginning.

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Tales of Xillia

Tales of Xillia (Playstation 3)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Some of the side quests are extremely easy to miss and there is a lot of running around and farming involved to level up and find various treasures. In the end though, it is an enjoyable RPG story with a variety of characters. It is also one of the few RPGs I've seen that is well done with a multi-player option (up to 4 can be assigned controllers for battle mode, though there are a total of 6 playable characters once everyone is in your group). It's been a fun family adventure to run around Rea Maxia and unravel the story.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 10: Guardians of the Galaxy

MCU 10: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Going in to this movie, I wasn't really sure what to expect. There is a lot of humor that is spot on and really enjoyable. Other parts of it leave you wondering what they were thinking using it in the film. Overall the movie is enjoyable though and keeps you entertained. I was surprised at how much I ended up liking Groot by the end of the movie given his rather limited dialogue. Even though Peter Quill is the protagonist, really the most consistent character that was a lot of fun was Rocket (the alien squirrel with an attitude). Interesting twists as the story progresses and a good diversity in the characters. Unsure what I think of the sequel talks, but I suppose it has potential if done right, like most of the Marvel stories given they have so much material to pick from.

Kate Daniels 7: Magic Breaks

Kate Daniels 7: Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The book starts off with a disclaimer from the author telling us that this is not the end of the series despite it reading like it is. To the contrary, this did not feel like a proper end to the series for me at all.

Yes, Roland finally comes into the picture. Yes, Curran finally has to give something up for Kate instead of the other way around. Yes, Kate is obviously coming more fully into her power. No, issues with the Pack, the People, or Roland in general are not completely resolved. Hugh still lives, Roland wants to get to know his daughter, and Kate has both opened herself up to more challenges and also realized just how out-classed she is magically speaking.

On the one hand, Kate really was backed into a corner many times. On the other hand, there were several times that she wanted to (or did) just whimper and wait for Curran instead of handling things herself. What happened to the strong willed, defiant mercenary that relies on no one?

Roland was... interesting. He does seem to have the attitude and power that is expected, but he doesn't come across as being complete evil despite is obviously sometimes clouded judgment. The idea that he wants to train Kate and genuinely get to know her seems at odds with Voron's training and the previous battles Kate and Curran have faced (though it sounds as if more of that was in direct opposition to Curran than to Kate). The obvious lack of care with using his power to watch Kate and "meddle" in her life (as obvious by the treat and note in the end) is both amusing and disturbing at the same time. That alone will make for some interesting dynamics in the future.

This doesn't even touch on the chaos that will be both the People and the Pack. I expect to hear more on the Pack side of things just because in power or not, the pair has more work and friend ties with them than the dead. It will be interesting to see how things play out on that field as well. Hopefully the lack of "responsibilities" in that regard will allow for more growth in our favorite make-shift little family, especially as they now deal with a very powerful, slightly unreasonable, and determined family member in the mix. One thing is for sure, their lives never seem to be dull.

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The Last Ship

The Last Ship (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Honestly I only watched this originally because a old fellow classmate (Marissa Neitling) is in it. The premise reminds me greatly of the many zombie movies out now, only it's an infectious disease literally killing everyone instead of turning them into zombies. The last survivors are on a ship (hence the title) and are on a quest to create the cure for the rest of the world before time runs out. The challenge is not getting sick and losing their entire crew in the process. Honestly not looking like the best acting and filming job, so I'm not entirely interested in the series itself, but it is interesting to see my old classmate on screen.

Extant

Extant (2014)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Despite the hype of the new series, the first two episodes failed to draw me in. Halle Berry plays Molly Woods, lead star and astronaut who returns from a solo space mission.... pregnant. Fainting, seeing things she's convinced cannot be real, and cryptic conversations with her adopted son as she dodges her husband lead to a confusing foundation. I remember Berry most recently from X-Men, Catwoman and Gothika, none of which are anywhere near this. It's odd to see her in a continuing TV role like this. Sadly, I don't think this is a new series I'll be following.

Cinderella III: A Twist In Time

Cinderella III: A Twist In Time (2007)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


The sequel films definitely do not follow the original or fall in line with each other at all. Cinderella II saw a short story where Cinderella helped Anastasia find love with a local merchant during the festival. In this sequel, Anastasia once again longs for the type of love Cinderella has with the prince. The catch is that this time she gets her hands on the fairy godmother's wand. This leads to the step mother playing the wicked sorceress as she makes the prince forget Cinderella and even turns Anastasia into a look-alike when her original plan fails to force them to marry. Thankfully Anastasia's longing for a real love overpowers her desire to be with the prince as she recognizes that even her mother's many spells have failed to prevent the prince and Cinderella from recognizing each other. Overall it's very confusing and ridiculous to watch.

Maleficent

Maleficent (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a very interesting rendition on the classic story. Nothing like Disney's original Sleeping Beauty, this time it's Maleficent who you can't help but cheer for. Rather than playing a nearly non-existent role, it is the king who is viewed as the villain. The fairies, instead of being wise and kind, are annoying and aggravating pixies who desperately need to take a hike. Maleficent also does not become the dragon herself this time, as it is her companion/friend who often shifts forms for her, including often being seen as her loyal raven. The relationship between Aurora and Maleficent is especially interesting. I wondered if it would be the raven that broke the spell when Prince Phillip failed, but liked the twist even more this time, especially after she had even tried to remove her curse herself. Rather poetic really. The only thing slightly disturbing is those unnaturally sharp and high cheek bones. Is it supposed to be her face or her skeleton? That is totally not normal... even if Maleficent is supernatural given her wings and horns.

Transformers 4: Age of Extinction

Transformers 4: Age of Extinction (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The dinobots are interesting, but kind of an afterthought at the very end of the movie. The main human counterparts have all been replaced. The only returning autobots are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. The overall story seems to be more of a reason to blow things up than any cohesive tale. Of course Megatron would find a way to come back again... what is a hero without a villain, even if there is a hunter after Prime already on the loose. The humans trying to literally recreate the transformers but thinking that they wouldn't also be sentient just the same is laughable in it's sheer naivete. Overall not the best movie, but sadly probably better than Dark Side of the Moon.

Sailor Moon Crystal

Sailor Moon Crystal (2014)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


The new animation style is a lot more true to the original manga, but there are a few things that might drive you nuts. For one thing, arms and legs are ridiculously long, leading to a bit of a rubber limb effect during the transformation sequence. The other that really stands out is the excessive amount of hair and random floating hair tendrils that Usagi/Sailor Moon sports. It also does feel oddly strange to have Endymion dressed in a tuxedo even as a "normal human" instead of only as Tuxedo Mask (which also makes it all the more baffling how he isn't recognized sooner). There is also an odd shift in the animation style when the transformation hits so it looks more like video game graphics instead of anime. This inconsistency is strange to say the least, but the overall story does appear to be following the manga very closely. This is a refreshing change for the constant detours and random characters thrown into the original series. Hopefully it keeps staying true to form as it continues.

How To Train Your Dragon 2

How To Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


A great sequel to the original film that keeps the action coming and fills in some gaps while leaving others. For example: when did Stoick and Gobber acquire their dragons? This could have easily been filled in either in the movie or in the two TV seasons that aired between the two films, but it did not. It also would have been nice if the TV series showed some progressive aging so the characters changes weren't so jarring coming into this new piece. Valka is an interesting and fun twist. It's hard not to be happy for Stoick in the end, while also feeling bad for Valka as well. Movie summaries show Astrid as still being the dominant in her relationship with Hiccup, and while she certainly is still self-assured and assertive, she's also a lot more open with her teasing and follows Hiccup much easier, bolstering his position as the future/new chief of Berk. In the same vein, it is Hiccup who makes a move at the end of the movie rather than Astrid, who took charge at the end of the first film. There's also Stoick's rather loud cheer of "that's my future daughter-in-law" during the early dragon race to reinforce their relationship is still strong. On the flip side, the boys who were all clamoring for Astrid's attention are all now focused on Ruffnut, which is very strange.

Admittedly, I also expected Eret to take a larger part in this film from what I'd heard, though he is by far a minor character that just happens to be there more often than not. It does appear that between him taking over Skullcrusher and Ruffnut's interest in him, that this could change in the third film. Drago, despite being the main "villain" of the film, is also seen very little and is rushed through. His "mystery" might be meant to be part of his overall appeal, but it just leaves him feeling very rough around the edges instead of as a fleshed out main character. Sadly, Dagger the Deranged is better fleshed out in the TV series, and that is one very disturbed opponent.

Toothless is by far still the best character of the series. Can't help but feel bad for him when the new Alpha starts stepping on toes and forcing the dragons to act against their wills. It's sad that Hiccup could reach him in the final battle, but not when Toothless was forced to attack him and hurt Stoick. Should have probably seen Toothless taking on the Alpha coming, but it was a nice twist. Would have been an interesting change had he kept the supercharged plasma glow he had during that confrontation full time. Toothless is definitely the better "alpha," especially with his close connection to Hiccup and obvious integration in life on Berk. Even Cloudjumper acknowledges him, and he seemed to treat Toothless more as an errant child than a full fledged dragon (I wonder if that's partly because he's the last living Night Fury and/or because he appears to be the same age as Hiccup).

It will be interesting to see how things change with Valka back home now and what more discoveries will be happening with the dragons. Between her inside knowledge, Hiccup's discoveries, and the vast number of new dragons that have joined the island since the attack, there's an entirely knew world on the island. Good thing Hiccup seems to be so good at engineering whatever new contraption they need for their peaceful coexistence. Too bad it had to wait for him and Toothless instead of taking effect when Valka was still home.

Professor Layton 4: The Last Specter

Professor Layton 4: The Last Specter (Nintendo DS)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The first of the Professor Layton games I actually played on a 3DS despite it also being released for the DS. The story is cute and holds plenty of twists and turns. There are several mini games added in, so there is never any drop in things to do in the game. It is curious that this is the fourth installment in the game series when it in facts appears to be the original story of how Luke and Professor Layton met in the first place, resulting in Luke becoming his apprentice. Still, it is nice to get the story, even if it is a little late. It also begs the question of where Emmy went since she plays a rather large role in this case and obviously enjoys working with the Professor. It's hard to believe that she wouldn't mind being "replaced" by Luke so easily, though no mention of it is ever made in the game. Keep in mind that blindly following directions in the game may mean you miss a couple of puzzles along the way, so you'll want to keep up with the puzzle shack, as always.

Rio 2

Rio 2 (2014)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Blu had a hard enough time adapting just with Jewel, he doesn't appear to stand much of any chance with his father-in-law. It certainly doesn't help matters that he's friendly with humans and the rest of the forest sees them as a threat as they bulldoze their homeland. Jewel, and even their three kids, fit in nearly seamlessly with the rest of the flock. Blu on the other hand.... can't help but cringe and feel sorry for him. Not really sure why they revisited Nigel this time around as he was more of a nuisance than anything. Some comedic humor perhaps with the catchy music he and Gabi sing, but that's about it. The really story is all about the rival birds.

X-Men 7: Days of Future Past

X-Men 7: Days of Future Past (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


There are some inconsistencies this time around that don't fit with the other films (like Wolverine having his adimantium claws despite them returning to their original bone state in The Wolverine prior to this film's setting). The rest appears fairly consistent with the story in First Class and the original X-Men trilogy, though that isn't really finalized until the end of the movie when you start seeing a lot of familiar faces and realize just how far history was changed for the better. Despite the very brief cameos at the end, it was a surprise to have not heard anything prior about the original cast returning again given their absence in the three films released since The Last Stand. A lot of the characters are only seen in passing, so unless you are familiar with the series to begin with, you may not recognize them. Even then, you'll be hard pressed to catch all of them without looking at the cast list.

Two-Bits & Pepper

Two-Bits & Pepper (1995)

My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars


Home Alone meets Mister Ed in this film as a couple of families make some really stupid decisions while even stupider kidnappers are on the loose (these guys take "dumb and dumber" to a whole new level consider their inability to even add 1+1). One girl is left home alone while her parents travel the world and actually tells the kidnappers this prior to them following her home. The other runs away from home to her friend's parent-less home after a fight with her mother. The saving grace? Two humorous talking horses (they can talk to each other, not to their humans) go out on the rescue for the girls on their own. Two-Bits, a plucky little pony with a knack for escaping, puts it all on the line to stop the kidnappers from taking the girls across the border while his partner, Pepper, helps the cops chase them down. Some humor, but overall bad acting and not a very well developed story.

The Emperor's New Groove 2: Kronk's New Groove

The Emperor's New Groove 2: Kronk's New Groove (2005)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


As with most Disney sequels, the second isn't as good as the first. Still, there are a lot of fun characters and the story is interesting. Kronk is still blissfully ignorant while trying to do good and easily being manipulated beyond common sense. It was his weakness the first time around and still remains so. This time, however, he has the help and support of a good community and friends to see him through. In the meantime, Kuzco is "watching" the movie right along with you and will stop by for a brief spotlight and commentary just so you don't forget about him. Honestly, the ending is the best part of the entire film just because of the summary in the lessons learned and the importance of the life Kronk has found as one of the good guys.

The Emperor's New Groove

The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Kuzco is a rather self centered and arrogant emperor with a large chip on his shoulder. All he cares about are his looks and his possessions. It takes a rather drastic transformation into a llama of all things and a hysterical adventure with the most unlikely of allies for him to learn just what really is important in life. Certainly isn't helped any that his closest "adviser" is the very same person trying to off him and steal his thrown. This is one llama emperor that is out to learn a whole new groove.

The Wind Rises

The Wind Rises (2013)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Not the most thrilling of Ghibli films, but still a touching story with amazing art. Nahoko's design actually reminds me a lot of Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle. Jiro is obsessed with aviation; he dreams it, studies it and lives it until he's able to work in the industry, designing his own air crafts. There is nothing touching or entertaining for children this time around however. The plane designs are largely for war purposes. Between this, earthquakes, and very real disease stealing time from Jiro and Nahoko, there is no hidden field of sunshine and roses to make everything better in this tale. Instead, happiness is found in the brief moments allowed in between work and constant struggle for survival. Also watched this subtitled rather than waiting for it to be dubbed, so that also could have contributed to losing some of the draw since everything had to be read rather than adding verbal emotion as I don't speak Japanese. Still, I can't fault the artwork or the realistic telling of the story, as bittersweet as it may be.

Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch

Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch (2005)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


You would think if he had this manic energy problem, that it would have been mentioned or made a little more obvious in the first movie when he primarily "bad" before he learned about his family. Instead, it takes these nightmares to drive a wedge between the previously more troubled yet steadfast family members and highlight the problems Stitch is having. In the meantime, Jumba has to figure out how they're going to save Stitch without access to most of the technology used to create him in the first place - not a comforting notion. Can't help but be disappointing in Lilo this time around and feel badly for Stitch. Nina also needs to give David and official chance and stop leading the poor boy on; he's practically part of the as is - just make it official and move on.

Lilo & Stitch

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Don't believe the cover art, none of the other Disney cast make an appearance in the movie besides Stitch. Stitch is a science experiment gone wrong. Not only does he escape galactic custody in the first place, but he doesn't do anything that his creator expects him to. With an unexpected and unusual level of intelligence, Stitch not only passes for a "dog" in the human world, but learns the language as he discovers his new place with his human family. "Ohana" is the most important lesson after all. There really is a family for everyone.

A Goofy Movie

A Goofy Movie (1995)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


In my opinion, the better of the two Goofy movies. This time around young Maximilian is out to impress the girl he likes, Roxanne. In doing so, he'll learn some hard truths about family and honesty. Catching music and a cameo from Disney's favorite mouse, Mickey, make this a cute family movie with some neat concepts behind it.

An Extremely Goofy Movie

An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


The Goofy Movies are more stand alone films than sequels to each other as the only common threads are the characters and that Max is once again trying to escape from his father. Goofy ends up with more going right this time around than Max does however as he not only gets his college degree, but ends up in the college X games beating Max in the semi-finals, joins the Gammas and gets a new girlfriend. It's a close call to see not just if Max can make a rebound in the games, but if this father/son duo can get back on the right track.... again.

Men In Black 2

Men In Black 2 (2002)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Increase the humor, make the villain a sexy lady the boys all want to stare at, throw in a doomed love interest and possible planetary destruction: you have MIB 2. The catch? The only person who knows the information needed to save the planet is Agent K, who had his memory erased and is now "living normally" while working at an alien infested post office (though this time he's in the dark about his co-workers). Now it's a race both to find Agent K and to get his memory back in order to save the Last Light before time runs out and/or their newest enemy kills them. The acting isn't as good this time around and some of the effects get a little sloppy. The story line doesn't blend or catch as well as the first time around, and some of the humor feels forced or a little too easy. An amusing watch, but not measuring up to the first installment in the series.

Men In Black

Men In Black (1997)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The original is still the best. Will Smith plays Agent J, newly recruited partner for Agent K, who is apparently a bit of a legend among the MIB. Originally part of the NYPD, J has a lot to learn about the differences in policing interstellar activity instead of just earth activity. Good thing he deals relatively well with weird. Their biggest opponent - the world's largest cockroach out to destroy the planet... well, a couple of them actually. Hope you aren't afraid of bugs, because this film is crawling with them. Turns out J might not have a partner for long after all since he was actually recruited as a replacement.

Vampire Academy 3: Shadow Kiss

Vampire Academy 3: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I got distracted by finally picking up the graphic novel version of this. Shadow Kiss is great in terms of moving things along and the constant tension that keeps you on edge. It is bad in the sense that so many things are happening that it almost too much at once. This is not helped by things finally happening in the Dimitri/Rose department only to fall apart in a truly spectacular fashion. Add on top of that Adrian's request and Lissa finally putting things together only to throw a little tantrum over Rose leaving... too. much. drama.

It isn't enough that Rose is shadow-kissed (which would make a lot more sense as the full title and is often what I call it when referring to the series myself). There are more aspects to this whole world of the dead connection and possibly going insane bit than anyone imagined - and no one seems to believe Rose until she kind of proves things to Dimitri in the end with finding the caves through Mason. The attack is what causes everything to fall apart at the seams, yet that same attack is the reason that Dimitri finally believed Rose completely and they were able to figure out what was weakening the wards too. Turns out Rose isn't as crazy as everyone believes, though she obviously has more to worry about with her anger management issues (which were bad enough before the darkness was added into the mix).

So not expecting a lot from Lissa moving forward unless Rose is watching through the bond. This is very much moving on to Rose's story beyond just perspective, and it is not going well for her.

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Vampire Academy 3: Shadow Kiss

Vampire Academy 3: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


After just recently seeing the movie and being in the middle of re-reading the original books, this was both enjoyable and threw me for a mental loop. Not only do the characters not match my mental image, but they clash with their movie cast as well. That makes it a little jarring, as well as the obvious jumps in the story where things are summarized or skipped over to shorten it for the comic. If anything, the portrayal of the ghosts (especially Mason), and the fire fight with Christian are the stand out highlights this time around. Rose and Dimitri are once again ghosted over in favor of the Stirgoi attack and subsequent rescue gone sour. Might have enjoyed it more if I didn't have the movie stuck in my head at this point, but that's not something I can say for certain either since it isn't something I can change. Still, it's fun to have this other form of the books and see the characters as more than just words on a page.

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As expected from the previews, Electro is the main villain this time around. The Green Goblin and Rhino will also make appearances while you'll also see gear for Vulture and Doc Oc if you pay attention. The only purpose to bringing in these other two villains was Gwen's death (Goblin) and Spider-Man's subsequent return to the field (Rhino). If not for these two details, it makes little to no sense to show them at all. Granted, the end of the film hints at Osborn playing a larger role as more villains are brought to the surface with a third installment, if it happens, but that still leaves the overall movie feeling rather disjointed in comparison to the original. Gwen was a great complimentary character to Spider-Man, portrayed much better than how M.J. was done in the original trilogy. Still, original fans of the comics will recognize the way the arc came together and may still approve of sticking closer to the original story line as opposed to the larger deviations that were taken before. Just disappointing that they chose not to do so while keeping it on par with the first release.

Horns to Toes

Horns to Toes by Sandra Boynton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Think of "head, shoulders, knees and toes" only with additional concepts (back, teeth, numbers of fingers and toes, etc). While short and to the point, as most children's board books are, this is a fun way to help teach your child to recognize different parts of the body on different body types as they are similar enough to human but not entirely (fuzzy tummies and tails for example). Right now, my toddler is more interested in animals, but she's slowly turning to body exploration and it's easy to see this becoming a hit with that phase.

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Big Hugs, Little Hugs

Big Hugs, Little Hugs by Felicia Bond

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a very simplistic book that is all about hugs. My daughter likely picked it off the shelf because of the cats ("meows") on the cover. It is good in the sense that it is very easy to use it not just for the simple story, but you can also use the pictures to illustrate the words along with mixing in the animals names and sounds if you want to expand on each page. Mercy will turn a page and point at the animal for each name/sound after we've read the page and refuse to turn it again until she's satisfied. I imagine this will be one of the easier books for her to learn to read herself earlier on simply because of how simple it is.

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Vampire Academy 2: Frostbite

Vampire Academy 2: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Continuing on with the re-reading.

Rose finally starts to really grow up and understand what's going on around her this time around. This is especially obvious at the end of the book with how she handles the molnija ceremony as well as her conversations with both Dimitri and her mother. Prior to Spokane, she really does a good job of messing up her own feelings along with Mason's and acting more like a jealous teen than the adult Guardian she claims she is/wants to be. This is even more obvious in how she lashes out at her mother (who really does appear to be more like Rose than either of them probably want to admit). Adrian is an interesting addition to the mix... a very flamboyant and potentially flammable addition given his spirit similarities with Lissa and his interest in Rose - not a good combination (at least for our favorite Russian). Dimitri is probably the one who changes the least this time around. While in the end he does admit to some feelings on his side, he started that path in the last book and obviously didn't get anywhere with it. Obviously distraction and delusion didn't work for either of them; let's see how far maybe some honesty will go. Rose and Dimitri present such a complicated dynamic; reader's can't help but be drawn in.

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Vampire Academy 1: Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy 1: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Yeah, the re-reading bug definitely bit me. Thinking about the movie got me browsing bad fanfiction, which made me want the original again. So, here we are.

Rose is a character that is easy to both love and hate. She's witty and loyal to Lissa, but that's about as far as you can depend on her. For all of her great skill and determination to do better, she's also still a love struck teenager who has a lot of growing up to do. This is further proved by the high school antics between Lissa's and Mia's groups. Dimitri is easier to like as all we see is his good side reflected through Rose's eyes. If anything, the most controversial and like-able character would actually be Christian. The bigger dark horse of the series, it's a relief when he finally gets through to Lissa at the end. Victor plays such a minor role originally that it's a bit of a shock when he's in the limelight at the end, though it also makes a lot of sense since even high school kids aren't that creative and determined in their bullying. Despite knowing how things eventually turn out with Mia, it's still easy to hate her and be annoyed as she continually pokes the proverbially porcupine throughout the book. Knowing Rose's temperament, she really did ask for that nose job.

Despite starting out slow, the book fleshes out enough to draw you in while still wanting more details and information at the end. Guess it's a good thing it's just the first book in a series then.

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Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy (2014)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


As adaptations go, it wasn't horrible, but it could have been better. Some things were edited in or out that could have been done better overall. Oscar staying was one step out of line right off the bat as he's supposed to belong to the girl's human house mate before their capture. Rose is downplayed significantly, lacking a lot of her initial bravado and punch starting with how Dimitri takes her down during the capture and ending with her more mild insistence and using Christian as a "seeing eye dog" during the rescue. On the contrary, Dimitri appears more approachable than in the books and even stronger if that initial confrontation is anything to go by, despite the significantly little amount of screen time he actually gets. Lissa also plays a much larger role as the story seems to be told almost more from her perspective with the number of times Rose is "watching" her than from the way Rose sees things in the book. It was neat how they changed Rose's eyes to make it obvious when she was with Lissa, though that also wasn't the impression from the books as most seemed to be rather clueless when it came to the girl's bond. As a stand alone movie, it's amusing, but overall lacks a lot of the draw and appeal that would make it a big success without the fandom base from the books already supporting it. This is rather disappointing as it makes it less likely to see the series finished on the big screen.

Vampire Academy 6.5: Homecoming

Vampire Academy 6.5: Homecoming by Richelle Mead

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I both loved and hated this. On the one hand, it's Rose and Dimitri. These two work together so seamlessly, it would be impossible not to enjoy them. On the other, it felt like the purpose of the trip got a little side lined by the hunting party, even though the set up was purposefully very reminiscent of the same attack that started the entire escapade. Yeva is as cryptic and crazy as ever - something which brings out Rose's snark and frustration beautifully. It is both amusing and annoying how the rest of the family jumps on her predictions so quickly (though the last one with the wedding was a perfect crack). Then you add in the would-be human vampire hunter who is completely delusional and can't take a hint.... he was just down right annoying. Still, it would be fun to see just how Dimitri wears Rose down for that wedding they're all planning now.

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Vampire Academy 1.1: The Meeting

Vampire Academy 1.1: The Meeting by Richelle Mead

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, I had to read it. VA is so easy to read and fall in love with. Dimitri has always been the most reserved and mysterious of all the characters. Really, how could a reader not want to know more about how he works? This is a very brief snippet that gives some insight to Dimitri's thoughts leading up to capturing Rose and Lissa. It was always a little confusing to figure out exactly what he thought of Rose despite his obvious attraction. This lays the foundation behind that thought process that ultimately makes his stance to help her at the Academy and their following romance add up even better. If anything, like most snippets, it's too short!

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The Hollows 12: The Undead Pool

The Hollows 12: The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


You can tell the series is wrapping up. For a brief second, I wondered if by some miracle Kisten really was coming back, but no. Even then, that would have presented some complications between Ivy and Rachel. Trent and Rachel have certainly danced around each other long enough. Of course the biggest obstacle: Ellasbeth. Every time she shows up, I want to cringe. She is one character that needed to take a hike awhile ago.

Rachel seems to do a lot of learning, accepting, and growing up this time around. There are aspects that you can't help but feel bad over (Trent's trouble with the elves, Rachel losing Al, David moving on with a new alpha, the entire insanity aspect, etc), but the overall conclusion is too good to be upset over it. As usual, Rachel doesn't follow any of the rules. David is always a nice supportive character, though it seemed like he should have been around more up until Rachel handed the reigns off to the new alpha. The elves really make a mess of things this time around, and I can't help but think Ellasbeth is more involved than she lets on. It's certainly no secret that she thinks Trent should fall in line with her plans and she hates Rachel.

A little concern at the end about the girls and how things will resolve with Trent being cut off for the moment, but he and Rachel certainly make a lethal and resourceful team. Trent has already had to steal them back once. I doubt either of them would hold back to ensure the girls stayed with them in the long run. There are also still some concerns with Nina, but she and Ivy are definitely a good match and doing well. Guess it shouldn't be that much of a surprise that Ivy is thinking about moving out (and on with her life).

Supposedly the next book is the last in the series. It will be interesting to see how everything resolves.

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Black Dagger Brotherhood 8: Lover Mine

Black Dagger Brotherhood 8: Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book drove me a little crazy, despite being great with so many different insights and details. Xhex and John's story has been developing for a long time, and it kept that trend even though this was "their" book that brought things to a head. There are a few things that will drive you crazy though.

1. The connection between John and Darius. This has been danced around for a long time, and will continue to be. It's amazing that so many different people notice it (movement, mannerisms, body build, the echo in the brain), yet no one has figured out what it means in truth.

2. Payne and Vishous. It's a little disturbing to have that bomb dropped where apparently Payne was fully aware of Vishous and missing him dearly, but he had no clue about her. Even with that shocker, nothing more is shown or revealed in this book. You'll have to move on to the next one for any answers there.

3. The flash backs with Darius are interesting, but can feel rather distracting from the main story line until the end of the book. No'One presents as many questions as she does answers, but that makes for another interesting twist with Xhex. Who would have ever imagined that her hellren's previous persona was the very one who saved and named her. Fate?

4. Throwing Muhrder back into the mix at the end. That just seemed somewhat cruel and potentially dangerous for Xhex. On the other hand, if he is in fact still alive, having another Brother in the war would be a benefit.

5. Speaking of Brothers, John has yet to be inducted. Everyone says he's Darius's son, he was born with the Brotherhood scar, and already knows his true name. He fights in the war and lives with the Brothers. All this aside, he's yet to be inducted, which makes other people (like Xhex) referring to him as a Brother seem both natural and awkward at the same time.

6. Blay and Qhuinn are getting very painful, and that one is likely to get a lot worse than it gets better. Something about good intentions going awry might apply here. Qhuinn reminds me a bit of an ostrich burying his head in the sand rather than facing things.

In the end though, things are working out for the best. The first turning point isn't so much finding Xhex as when she helps facilitate John and Tohrment's reunion. Those two needed to get back together again badly. That paves the way for John's healing, which in turn makes it easier for Xhex to see what really matters at the end. If not for all those connections and John having opened back up to her, regardless of their agreement to go their separate ways at the end, it is unlikely things would have turned out as well as they did.

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Black Dagger Brotherhood 7: Lover Avenged

Black Dagger Brotherhood 7: Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


Ehlena is a good character, and more realistic for her combination of rational and gut reactions to things that keep her more real. The only exception perhaps to this would be her easy acceptance of Rhevenge bonding with her, though even there she keeps her level head with the reality of bonding not equaling a mating. At least not initially. Really, there's nothing either of them can do about it either. With this and Rhevenge's secret on the line, it's little surprise that he pulls back from her the way he does. Even with all of that to consider though, he's the only one of the males who hasn't immediately run scared or tried to change the fact that he was bonded. That's a refreshing change.

John and Xhex are just painful this time around. There's a little sign of hope at the end with Johon referring to Xhex as his mate, but that doesn't change a whole lot when she's still missing and he still has a boat load of issues to deal with, especially between him and Tohrment. It's good to see Tohrment finally making some progress after that tailspin he's still in at the start. Still could end up being a case of too little too late, but there's still hope now that both look to be rebounding.

Wrath and Rhevenge as the two big kings at the end though? Yeah, that could either end up being very sticky (with Rhevenge still wanting the vampire life with Ehlena) or a very good thing. It would seem after assassination attempts, keeping each other's secrets, and now this big rescue, that Wrath and Rhevenge should have a pretty good feel for each other. Rhevenge's thoughts towards Wrath would certainly hint towards a good working relationship in the future.

This story felt like it dragged a little more the second time through, but I think that had more to do with how Rhevenge had previously felt like he was more on the sidelines and Ehlena basically came out of nowhere than anything else. The set up makes sense for a lot of future details and how things need to be able to play from here on out, but feels a little out of place after going through the Brotherhood in quick succession.

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Black Dagger Brotherhood 6: Lover Enshrined

Black Dagger Brotherhood 6: Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This one is more of an emotional roller coaster than the other so far, and that's saying something especially after Zsadist's train wreck with denial. On the plus side, Phury is the only male that has recognized and acknowledged the entire bonding reality from the start. That does not, however, mean that he does any better of a job acting on it. Instead of accepting it and being happy, he managed to nearly destroy everything important to him, including his potential happiness with his shellan. There is a lot of upheaval as Phury nearly caves to his addictions before finally turning things around at the very end. It's rather heartbreaking just how badly everything will fall apart before they start getting better.

On the other hand, all that heart break and turmoil makes the ending that much sweeter. It is especially a pleasant surprise how easily the Scribe Virgin agrees to Phury's plan. This new world order will take some getting used to for everyone, and it's an odd thought that Phury won't be with the rest of the brothers all of the time any more, but it also makes sense to keep the Chosen in a more secluded home of their own at least until they've adjusted to their new lives.

Lash is another surprise, though it really shouldn't have been. He's spelled trouble from day one. Having someone with all the vampire's secrets on the inside definitely not a good thing for the Brotherhood. It would have been interesting to have seen more of how Lash ended up with his vampire family and just what they thought of his addition to the family as he obviously was not in fact their perfect first born as everyone claims. There's enough evidence left behind of his change in loyalty that it's rather disappointing it hasn't come out yet.

Thor is the other big surprise this time around. There's always been this lingering mixture of hope and denial that Thor would be seen again. The silver lining so far is that sudden hug with John. If not for that, it would still be a question if there was any hope of breaking through the sorrow at all.

There's still a lot left in the air at the end of this one, especially regarding Phury and the Brotherhood. The good thing is that it does look like some positive changes are happening that will lead to better things in the future.

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Tinker Bell 5: The Pirate Fairy

Tinker Bell 5: The Pirate Fairy (2014)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Zarina is the first of a new type of fairy - alchemy. Originally a dust keeper, she has Tink's same insatiable drive to learn new things. This leaves to her feeling driven out and outcast as she does not follow the rules at all - sounds familiar. It should come as little surprise then, that when Zarina thinks she's leading the pirates and steals the blue dust, that it would be up to Tink and her friends to save both the dust and their lost friend. There is also the bonus of a few other characters from the original Peter Pan. See if you can identify Captain Hook, Smee and the crocodile in their younger forms. It would appear that perhaps the fairies were the pirates opponents long before Peter Pan himself came on the scene.

Black Dagger Brotherhood 5: Lover Unbound

Black Dagger Brotherhood 5: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Yup, still love the books. This unexpected second read-through hasn't changed that. Vishous has always been the smart one, but somewhat out on the edges until Butch came along. The cop has been his safe haven without bad habit attachments for so long that it's little surprise he's attached. This book definitely puts that attachment into perspective for him, along with lighting up his otherwise rather serious mood behind all his playful comebacks. More than a few kicks in this book between learning about V's mom, his sister, and his shellan all together. Granted no one else knows about his sister besides dear mom yet, but neither did any of the readers until now.

John's transformation has been expected for awhile, and I couldn't claim any surprise over how that went down. More hints of Darius all around. Have to admit I'm a little surprised everyone is still buying the entire "son" idea and no ones thought of the alternative. Memory flashes from another life, pre-branded as a Brother, instinctive fighting style that perfectly matches D... really? No one is even going to knock on that door? Not that he's been all that talkative about the memory flashes, but still - it's something that could become more further down the road.

Manny also is another character to pay attention to here. Outside of the fact that he really does need to respect boundaries with Jane, he's a likable enough character. Turns out both V and Jane's little side thoughts about him will end up being important later down the road.

Jane as a ghost.... now that is a strange one. On the one hand, it solves the possible death scenario just like Mary is now in the clear, and keeps her with V long term. She's still able to set up shop to be the Brother's private physician. Still, it's more than a little outside the norm so far and will take some getting used to. We were already learning a new bag of tricks for V's hand with the whole balancing out Butch's abilities and healing piece. Turns out there's another benefit now with his mate.

Phury on the other hand, is on a tailspin of self destruction. For all that they've seen the signs so many times now, he's willfully blind as a bat with Cormia at the moment. This is not helped by his on-going obsession with Bella. Still, the step in for Vishous as the Primale was a good move, and likely his long time saving grace given the way he was headed prior to the decision. Phury is hard not to like from the start given his more easy manner and the way he tries to take care of everyone. While it's a good thing that he is able and willing to step in for Vishous, it's also hard not to feel sorry for him. Seems like he's the only one so far who doesn't know what he's looking for and isn't really happy. John could be lumped in the same category for the moment even though he isn't really a Brother yet. These two are the ones to watch out for.

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The Croods 1

The Croods 1 (2013)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Despite a lot of humor and amusement at the trailers when they first aired and a definite love for a lot of Dreamworks' original features, it took me awhile to get around to watching this one. The caveman theme does get a little old at times, but the character portrayal is so over the top that it is highly entertaining. Nothing is as it seems as this cave family follows their unexpected ally/friend to the ends of the earth, picking up some unlikely furry friends along the way. The over protective father figure is, of course, the last to come around. Though you can't help but be annoyed with him earlier on, it all serves a purpose by the time the end of the film rolls around. Just keep waiting - you'll like how it turns out. Can't say it was entertaining enough to top Rise of the Guardians, How to Train Your Dragon or Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron on my favorites list, but it was still another good family film.

Black Dagger Brotherhood 4: Lover Revealed

Black Dagger Brotherhood 4: Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another one that was rated the first time and being written about the second time through. I can't claim to love this one as much as the first three, but it is definitely still high on my favorites list. The romance almost takes a back seat here as a lot of questions are answered all over the board - about Vishous, Butch, Marissa, and what's going on with the lessers. There's also a lot of education going on for John as he copes without Thorment that was sorely needed. It's rather impressive to see how much Zsadist has stepped up to the plate since his recent spotlight in just the last book. As well as Butch and Marissa have fit together from day one, they learn there's a lot more to making a relationship work than just lust or love. Really have to like Marissa standing up for herself with the Council meeting and how she's handling creating her Safe Place. The whole naive damsel didn't work, but this determined attitude to do things her way and learn as she goes fits really well with the rest of the main cast. Can't help but both laugh and cringe at the scenes featuring Butch and the Scribe Virgin. If not for his own fierce desire to be part of something he truly cares about, it would be very easy indeed to believe Butch had a death wish, especially with the way he takes V on just before the whole bloodline revelation. It was a nice touch to get the details on just how the fangs came into the family from his mother at the end, even if it was telling the story to his sister without any mention of vampires at all. Overall, too well detailed and well paced to not enjoy.

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Black Dagger Brotherhood 3: Lover Awakened

Black Dagger Brotherhood 3: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The first time I read this was actually prior to the start of my Good Reads days, so the stars are from the original read, and the commentary is from take 2.

I loved the book because of how much more depth Zsadist has compared to some of the brothers at the moment. It was a relief to find characters (Bella and Mary) who was willing to look past his appearance and actually find what was underneath. Heaven knows the guy needed it as his brother wasn't enough. Can't help but feel a little sorry for Phury since he basically gets pushed away and ignored by Bella while Zsadist keeps trying to force them together. That has to be an awkward combination. Zsadist would definitely be one who needs a partner who knows her own mind and is willing to stick to her guns as he's even more withdrawn and in denial than most of the Brothers appear to be. This is a very stark contrast to how he is at the end of the book.

Finding out the Reverend and Rehvenge, Bella's brother, are one in the same, is still awkward the second time around. Also can't help but feel sorry for Butch and Marissa. That's another pairing that's having a very rough start. These boys just can't do things the easy way.

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Black Dagger Brotherhood 2: Lover Eternal

Black Dagger Brotherhood 2: Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


So apparently I unintentionally set myself into a re-read marathon mode, though I have no clue how long it will last before my ever-growing to-read pile pulls me back.

I really like how cohesive the stories are between books despite each one focusing on a different relationship. This one not only covers Rhage and Mary's romance, but introduces Zsadist's story for the next book as well as bringing in John Matthews and the Chosen, all of which will play large parts in the stories as they move forward. I'd have to admit that my favorite part of Rhage/Mary is how the relationship unintentionally tames his beast rather than the whole battling cancer scenario. Definitely does not resolve that problem in the expected way given the genre, but I think it's better that way. Honestly still surprised there hasn't been any biting though given Rhage is a vampire and Mary even tells him she wants him to at one point. Other than a few minor details like that feeling off, the overall book is enjoyable. Much more emotional turmoil and fast paced now that a lot of the basic introductions are over with. You still get a recap when Mary meets the Brotherhood for the first time, but not as in depth. As always, still glad they kept Butch around too. Can't help but feel sorry for him with the entire Marissa situation a little disappointed that his story was put off for so long, though I suppose it melds better with his end results regarding the Brotherhood.

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Kate & Leopold

Kate & Leopold (2001)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kate and her actor brother live in N.Y. in the 21st Century. Her ex-boy friend, Stuart, lives above her apartment and finds this space near the Brooklyn Bridge where there is a gap in time. He goes back to the eighteen hundreds and takes pictures of the place. Leopold, a man living in the 1870's, was puzzled by Stuart's tiny camera and decides to follow him and they both ended up in this century. Leopold is clueless about his new surroundings. He gets help and insights from Charlie who thinks that Leopold is an actor who is always in character. Leopold is a highly intelligent man and tries his best to learn and even improve the modern conveniences that he encounters.

- listal

Kate does not believe Stuart's claims of time travel in the least, even when she sees Leopold for herself. It isn't until after a lot of interaction and finally paying attention, partially thanks to her theater buff brother who is convinced Leopold must be a great actor himself at first, drags everything out into the open. It isn't until she sees the impossible pictures at the very end that reality finally sinks in and this unlikely couple finds their happily ever after. Very mellow on both ends of the spectrum (romance and comedy), but they meet in the middle for an amusing affair that leave you both heartbroken and cheering with laughter through the tale.

Kiesha'ra 2: Snakecharm

Kiesha'ra 2: Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The sequel is told from Zane's point of view instead of Danica's as the first one is. For anyone wanting more progression between our favorite rulers however, you'll be left disappointed. Outside of the fact that Danica is pregnant, more happens revolving the visiting falcons and subsequent loss/retrieval of their people than any real growth with the main pair. The foundation is set for Wyvern's Court, which is where the next book will take place, but that's pretty much it outside of Danica's fainting spells and frequent market skirmishes, largely pointed out by their unwanted visitor. It's still enjoyable, and a nice change to get Zane's view of things, but not as engaging as the original.

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Kiesha'ra 1: Hawksong

Kiesha'ra 1: Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have to admit, Danica and Zane are a favorite of mine when it comes to Amelia's books. Monarchs of two very different lands at war with each other for so long neither side truly remembers how it started anymore, they are desperate to find peace and save what little remains of their families. No one seems to believe a hawk and a cobra can love each other, but it seems all their challenges and doubts will push them further to that end. Danica has her avian reserve that she wraps around herself with like a shield, while Zane uses his own fierce emotions to channel his actions, marking him for the lethal and quick cobra he is. Neither of these characters are by any means shy or needy. Rather they are both strong and learn to lean on each other equally as they grow together.

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Black Dagger Brotherhood 1: Dark Lover

Black Dagger Brotherhood 1: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After having just read The King, I had to come back to the beginning of Beth and Wrath's story. Not that they ever completely left the picture despite the "couples" themes of the books, but this was definitely the focus on the two of them. Can't help but like how the Brotherhood are not your typical vampires. Also must admit to liking the variety in the girls. Beth is certainly not your typical head over heels damsel in distress. Part of me feels sorry for Butch with his part in this first installment, but it all ends in his favor. The lessers don't manage to hold my attention nearly as well as the Brotherhood, but I suppose that's little surprise. Still good to pay attention at least the first time through so you know what's going on, especially with the Omega. After all this time, I have to admit Wrath and Beth are probably still my favorites.

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Aladdin

Aladdin (1994)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Like with many of the Disney Afternoon shows, the TV series does not match up to the artwork of the original movie in the least. Aside from that, it does contain a fun series of snippets into the lives of the original characters, focusing mostly on Aladdin. Everyone else you mostly get as a by-product of what that particular adventure will drag into the mix. Still, I have fond memories of this one as well from my own childhood and look forward to watching it with my daughter.

Gargoyles

Gargoyles (1994)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


I have fond memories of watching this series as part of the Disney Afternoon when I was growing up. Don't really remember the last season, and the artwork definitely changes dramatically between the first two seasons and the last, but it is still nice to have some actual closure for the Gargoyles. Never really did tie things up with Elisa and Goliath, but I don't suppose that was ever truly going to happen so long as they remained different species. I find it highly amusing to have recently rediscovered this series and see the excitement in my own daughter when it plays.

The Vampire Diaries 12: The Salvation: Unspoken

The Vampire Diaries 12: The Salvation: Unspoken by L.J. Smith

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


As you might be able to tell from how long it took me to finish this book (2 months), this series is failing to hold my attention horribly. Sad considering that I loved the originals. The further these ghost writers go, the more it feels like they are warping the characters and just keep beating it to death so it keeps going in line with the TV series. Disappointing to be sure.

Stefan is dead, but that can't exclude him from a final all-understanding appearance at the end of the book. What's a main character death without a dramatic return and kind farewell, right? After all, Damon and Elena both got to come back to life and stay. Stefan doesn't get that honor though.

Damon and Elena's relationship progresses more slowly and naturally this time around, which is a bit of a relief while also being a little unreliable given the number of times to two have fallen and fought against each other all along. As hoaky as it would have been, I almost would have believed the immediate snatch and keep scenario more, especially with Damon's possessive streak.

Meredith is now one of the monsters.... but apparently the Guardians deem these "man made creations" and therefore still human. That little plot twist is saved for the very end to put Elena's life on the line again after just a couple of pages of happy resolution.

Overall, everyone is happily paired off. There is no longer one loner left out on the wings pining after someone else's partner in their little group. Half of them are married while the others appear to be close to same line of thought. And now Damon has to save Elena from yet another supernatural disaster of their own doing. I get the feeling forcing myself to read the next book will be a bit of a chore, though I also seriously hope it is the last.

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