Movies We Can't Wait To See in 2012

There were some pretty entertaining movies this year - Reel Steel, X-Men:First Class, and Super 8 to name a few including the final Harry Potter movie but next year looks like it's going to be even better.

Title: The Hunger Games
Release Date: March 23rd 2012

Sandy: I loved this book series and the trailer looks awesome. I am already a fan of Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth) and I am quickly growing fond of Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: First Class)

Title: Underworld: Awakening
Release Date: January 20th 2012

Reeshe: the first 3 were good movies

Title: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Release Date: December 14th 2012

Sandy: I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy and I love Martin Freeman (Sherlock, BBC) who will be playing Bilbo in this.

Title: The Avengers
Release Date: May 4th 2012

Sandy: I am a fan of the Marvel movies, not all of them but the majority and to have Robert Downy Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Mark Ruffalo all together in one movie which is directed by Joss Whedon...my brain just exploded.


Title: The Dark Knight Rises
Release Date: July 20th 2012

Sandy: The Dark Knight was awesome, Christopher Nolan is a genius director and I love me some Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway and Joseph Gordon Levitt xD.

Title: The Amazing Spiderman
Release Date: July 3rd 2012

Sandy: I was against this movie the moment I heard about it, I mean we just had three Spiderman movies a few years ago but then I saw this trailer and this one looks a lot less cheesy, more darker and just better.

Title: Snow White and The Huntsman
Release Date: 1st June 2012

Sandy: The trailer looks so epic! Its going to be both action and adventure. Snow White was my least favourite Disney princess because all she did was sing, cook, clean and get poisoned but in this movie she's actually going to get up off her butt and fight!

Title: Safe House
Release Date: February 10th 2012

Reeshe: Looks interesting
Sandy: Denzel Washington AND Ryan Reynolds...^_^


Title: Jack the Giant Killer
Release Date: June 15th 2012

Sandy: You have to have noticed by now that I like Fairy Tale retellings and I have yet to see one of Jack and the Beanstalk unless you count Puss in Boots, which I don't (though that movie was funny).


Title: Brave
Release Date: June 22nd 2012

Sandy: Two words: Disney's Pixar

Now this list was supposed to be a lot longer and actually have more reasons from Reeshe, but getting my co-blogger to do something on time is proving to be an impossible task. So blame her for this short list.

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Cover Up #1

This isn't going to be a regular thing but in the future I can see myself (like today) doing another post like this so they will be numbered :). I have stumbled across a few new YA covers in the past few weeks and thought it would be nice to share them.

The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong (UK Edition)	The Immortal Rules (Book of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa (US Edition)
Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand (Australian Edition)	Embrace by Jessica Shirvington (German Edition)

What do you all think? My favourites here are probably Hallowed and The Calling.

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Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

In the world of Graceling there are two distinct kinds of people - those that are graced and those that are not. The skills of the graced from what I have seen so far in this first book of Kristin Cashore's fantasy series are not as flamboyant or should I say obvious as what you would find in, for example, a comic book. There are no lasers shooting out of people's eyes, or tornado's being formed with a mere thought, the gracelings are what I would describe as unnaturally gifted. A normal person gifted in fighting would beat his or her opponent with almost ease, a person graced in fighting could have a broken arm, be faced off against five people and would still never lose a fight. The gracelings could be the most talented dancers, swimmers, runners, singers, weavers etc. or they could have far more dangerous talents.

Katsa's grace allowed her to kill a man when she was eight years old with one hand and from this moment on she has been used by her uncle, King Randa, to strike fear into the heart of anyone who wrongs him. This along with her particular grace has made others who have not even met Katsa fear her, and her upbringing has not made Katsa the most typical of noble ladies. Still, Katsa despite not seeing herself as anything more than a tyrant leads covert operations where she helps people who need it and more and more recently she is finding it much more difficult to carry out her uncle's orders. However, what really sets things off is while on a mission Katsa encounters a graced fighter who unexpectedly helps her unravel the peculiarities of her own grace as well as the shocking secrets of a foreign kingdom.

The story of Graceling for me was truly about not allowing yourself to be shaped by other people's predetermined thoughts of who you are and about being able to achieve anything as long as you never give up despite the odds. Graceling was also filled with such a diverse combination of awesome characters that ranged from brilliant to kick butt that I can’t wait to meet them again in Fire and Bitterblue.

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Movie Review: Breaking Dawn, Part 1

Production Company
Summit Entertainment/Sunswept Entertainment

Director
Bill Condon

Writers
Melissa Rosenberg, Stephanie Meyer (novel)

Main Stars
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolf pack and vampire coven.

Warning: Spoilers

Reeshe's Review

I enjoined this movie very much but I think the disappointing part of Breaking Dawn part 1 was when I found out that I would have to wait an entire year to watch part 2. Breaking Dawn was exciting, I never knew what was coming and it gave me goose bumps. I love that Jacob has finally found someone but I also can’t wait to find out what the Volturi will do about Bella or worst when they find out about the baby.

This movie is a rave but I fear that waiting so long will turn me off part 2.

Sandy's Review
Speaking as a non-fan this movie was surprisingly not as bad as I thought it would be even though I found myself laughing most of the time. Except for being a bit drawn out, it was obviously made for book fans and was actually quite decent. When comparing to the previous films I thought the actors were a lot better, there was a lot more humor and I didn’t find Bella dull. She was in danger again of course but this time it wasn’t just outward forces trying to kill her but her own unborn child. Kristen Stewart wasn’t overly awkward in this role and Bella actually seemed like a strong character in a subtle way.

Worst scene: where the wolf pack, as wolves, was communicating telepathically, it was cheesy and their voices, which were altered to have an undercurrent growl, sounded ridiculous.

Best scene: was actually a scene that had me cringing and a few have described as horror movie worthy – the birth scene. It was as if Bella was giving birth to the Anti-Christ - it was everything a normal birth scene had but turned up by 100.

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Anime: History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi

This anime was funny, cute and touching. It starts out with a weak kid who is picked on every day, so he grows tired of this and starts wanting to fight and protect people that can’t protect themselves like he used to be. Kenichi starts training at Ryozanpaku.
His is invited to train there by Miu Furinji. After he learns a basic move from Miu he was able to beat a big guy from his Karate Club this is when he becomes a target of a fight club called Ragnarok. Ragnarok is made up of the best fighters that are ruled by the 7 deadly fists.

This anime was able to show that through hard work that anyone can become great. Kenichi beat Ragnarok and one by one he touches their hearts and you find out what went wrong with each of them why they had turned to a street gang and most of them become friends.

Kenichi and his Masters

Kenichi Shirahama
(The History's Strongest Disciple)

Miu Furinji
(The Ultimate Martial Artist)

Akisame Koetsuji
(The Philosophical Jujitsu Master)

Apachai Hopachai
(The Shinigami (Death God) of Muay Thai Underworld)

Hayato Furinjo
(The Invincible Superman and Miu's grand father)

Kensei Ma
(The Master of All Chinese Kenpo)

Shigure Kosaka
(The Prodigy of Swords and Master of all Weaponry)
(She is also becoming one of my favorite people in this story)

Shio Sakaki
(The Hundredth Degree Street Brawler)

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Manga: Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu by Kanan Minami

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu is the series I go to when I want something fluffy and light and filled with drama. A series that helps me, for a little while, forget the stress and mundane of real life that I can get lost in. To be honest most books are read to transport us to another world but in the case with Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu which is categorized as smut my expectations are pretty low here and my needs simple. I just want something fun to read, to entertain me, and with this manga series I get exactly that.

Tsubaki is our heroine and she falls into the quiet, mousy category of a shojo MC. She knows how to style hair, do makeup, even dress up...other girls but doesn't think those kind of things suit her so she wears her school uniform skirt down past her knees, and puts her hair into two long simple braids. Her old fashion way of dressing even has the other students calling her a country bumpkin but Tsubaki has other things on her mind, her studies. Volume one begins with her and her younger sister starting the new school year and Tsubaki finds out that she didn’t make top student but the guy sitting next to her did. A long hair, laid back, flirt who doesn’t fit the profile of a hardworking, exam excelling student at all and what’s worse is how forward and rude he is to our heroine, to the point that he makes this quiet, people pleasing girl snap and randomly cut off his long hair! Of course this guy, Kyouta, who Tsubaki clashes with, is the series’ male MC and the story is about their relationship and all the drama it brings.

I can’t say this is a great series, it’s filled with the usual shojo clichés, the male MC took a good amount of volumes to like because his actions ventured into sexual harassment on many occasion and Tsubaki’s naiveté were at times quite unbelievable and frustrating but this series has its hooks in me. I cannot stop reading Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu because as the volumes carry on I do like the characters, I do love reading the lusty, swoony scenes and mushy dialogue. I crave the drama and the angst, and the series and it’s antics do crack me up on occasion, so I will recommend it to you if you are looking for something just to enjoy and not take too seriously.

Note: This series has not been licensed in English so if you want to read it you'll have to be search engine savvy. However, I do not promote the reading of online scanlations if a series has been officially published in a language you can read.

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Book Review: Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
As punishment for a crime he didn't really commit, Matt was given a choice: Go to jail or go live with an old woman named Mrs. Deverill in a remote town called Lesser Malling. He should have chosen jail. A strange and sinister plan is coming together in Lesser Malling, with Matt at the center of it all. People who try to help him disappear... or die. It all ties to an evil place called Raven's Gate- a place whose destiny is horrifyingly intertwined with Matt's own. Matt is used to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But now he's in the right place at the right time- for all the wrong reasons. It's going to take all his strength and power to save his life and stop Raven's gate from unleashing an ancient doom.

I am trying my best to write this review without any spoilers but I will tell you that Raven’s Gate starts off really slow, and even sometimes you think to yourself, why I am reading this. At one point I had to actually put this book down for a month after starting it, but then once you get past the boring parts you see that you are supposed to be confused, just like how the main character was but after he does puts the pieces together you see the story playing out in front of you.

I must say that I thought I would have been disappointed in Raven’s Gate but I came out of it smiling and a little upset that it had ended so quickly. I had a nice time reading this story, it was well written and even a bit over the top sometimes, but I feel like I was in the world of the book the whole time I read it, seeing and hearing everything that was going on. Mr Anthony Horowitz has a gift with drawing a reader into his world, to make you feel like you are actually in the book itself.

I can’t wait to read book #2.

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Book Review: Unnatural by Michael Griffo

Unnatural by Michael Griffo
In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…
For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.
But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…

Unnatural was a good book, it started off strong and ended strong. I would say that it hits you right on the head and continues to do so throughout the whole book. The love between two people even if it is two men can be both great and binding.

This book was just one of the many that I had to add to my favorites, it draws you in and keeps you there. I can’t wait to read the next book. Michael Griffo in a fascinating writer but he likes to overdo it when it comes to describing scenery and the main character’s feelings, but it helps because you feel like you are experiencing everything they are feeling and you can’t help but love it as well.

I would recommend Unnatural to anyone who is willing to get over the fact that it is about the love shared between two boys. Love should not have limitations based on gender or race. Love is just love and this book makes you feel that way. It helps to remind you that we are all just people.

I also loved the part about vampires, it was something about them that caught my eye but the book had taken some turns that I am not sure are for the best or worst but Unnatural is made up of some interesting people, I cannot wait to see what happens in Unwelcome.

I love this book and it has made it to my top 10 list of books.

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Book Review: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.
When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

This story started off a bit confusing but after three or four chapters it began to pick up and I could start putting the pieces together. There are a few parts of the book that will clue you in and help you feel the connection between yourself and the characters but then there are other times when the book just has this disconnected feeling and sometimes that can be very disappointing in a book, but Ms. Karen Mahoney knew what she was doing and she did a good job of getting her story to the point.

Sometimes there were parts in The Iron Witch where I wondered when it would end or get better and fortunately those parts are limited. I do believe that the main characters need a little work however, but The Iron Witch was a teen book and so the characters acted appropriately.

The Iron Witch was not only thrilling but it also made you think, a wonderful read once you got past the first few chapters. I won't say anything more before I let something slip so just read the book and see for yourself.


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Book Review: Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Last Breath by Rachel Caine
With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town—a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville’s latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn’t merely human. But is he a vampire—or something else entirely

This instalment of the series took an unexpected turn, but it was a turn that set my teeth on edge and had me reading non-stop. It was like a trap and the only way to escape was by finishing the book which I must say was not only great but was done in one day.

I think the only thing I found fault with in Last Breath was both Claire and Shane. Claire is simultaneously becoming smarter and childish, she needs to learn that if you can’t stand up for your friends (physically) then stop blaming yourself when they get hurt and because of that and other moments of bad judgement Claire was a big disappointment in this book.

Shane, sometimes I have to wonder about him, sometimes he treats Claire like his fiancé and then other times he treats her like a child and I for one think that he needs to step back and let her do things on her own. Why does he always want to run off and be the hero but Claire should stay at home? I almost wanted to say, “Shane, grow up, you don't live in the 50's any more; women don't stay home and just have kids and cook.”

However, despite Claire and Shane’s irritating moments I quite enjoyed Last Breath and for the story line alone I would give this book 5 out of 5.

Thank-you Rachael Caine your books are a great read and I can’t wait for the next one.

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Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 Trailer

I think this is a great series and I have been very happy with what I have seen so far and cannot wait to see this movie.

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Sherlock: Series 1 (BBC One)

For those of you who don’t know me my name is Sandy and I can be found on both my book blog and art blog. I am a fan of deviantart where I watch several talented artists for updates on their latest work; one artist in particular is Alice X. Zhang whose digital paintings are always filled with a vibrant combination of colours and wonderfully expressive brush strokes. A recent popular subject of Alice’s artwork is the BBC television crime drama Sherlock which I had never heard of before Alice started creating paintings of the show’s characters and recommending them in her Artist's Descriptions.

Portrait of Benedict Cumberbatch
as Sherlock by Alice X. Zhang

I’ve always been interested in Sherlock Holmes though I’ve never read the novels and of course already being a fan of the BBC I decided to check it out. Now mind you the show was released last year (2010) and I don’t have BBC One on my cable nor was I able to purchase the digital copies from Amazon so I of course resorted to unscrupulous methods of online TV watching and watched the whole season in two days. I regret nothing.

Described as a miniseries, season 1 of Sherlock is a modern day retelling comprised of 3 - 90 minute long episodes titled A Study in Pink, The Blind Banker, and The Great Game. Now after knowing how popular the show was I was surprised that season 1 was only three episodes long and that the fans had been waiting for season 2 for over a year but after watching the first episode I understand now why it's so popular and after watching the final episode I am happy I don’t have to wait long for the new season.

This show is not only brilliant and funny, but filled with great characters and is wonderfully written. Steven Moffat became a favourite of mine from Doctor Who and in Sherlock his genius continues to shine through fast paced storylines filled with twists and turns. Benedict Cumberbatch smoothly plays the most parts perceptive genius and some parts ignorant and childish Sherlock Holmes and playing his partner in crime solving and flat mate Dr. John Watson is Martin Freeman who I became a quick fan of in episode 1 or am I fan of John who is both pragmatic and adventure loving? Who knows, either way I love the scenes where Sherlock gets on John’s nerves and is completely oblivious to why John would be upset to finding a severed head in the refrigerator or being called across London to have his phone borrowed. I really do enjoy watching them both as well as the side characters who also add to the show with their excellent acting and of course Andrew Scott's Moriarty who is downright creepy.

Sherlock is a show restored for the current century and it is done refreshingly well, and if you haven’t seen the show yet then you should because you are most certainly missing out on great television.

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Book Series: The Morganville Vampires

The Morganville Vampires

By Rachel Caine

The Morganville Vampires series is great in its own ways and even better in other ways. This series so far has had its own fascinating and creepy turns; you will never truly know what’s around the next corner until it jumps out at you.

The books never give anything away, they are always exciting but never go over board with the excitement, if it is possible I would say that this series is so well written you never miss a beat or become confused by what’s going on.

Unreleased

Last Breath Release Date: November 1st 2011
Black Dawn Release Date (tentative): May 2012

Click on the book covers to be taken to each book's information page on the book series' website.

Note: Black Dawn currently has no information page on the book series' website.

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Author Hightlight: Cinda Williams Chima

Cinda Williams Chima is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers, the first book I read by her was The Warrior Heir and that was an amazing book, in fact, it was downright fantastic. I loved it so much that I quickly went through the whole Heir Chronicles. Each book is fast pace and intriguing and they will pull you in until the end. While reading them I felt as if my whole life had become the world of the series and I would suggest that anyone who can get their hands on the first book to get it now.

I have also started reading the Seven Realms Series and at first thought that maybe it would not be as good as the Heir Chronicles but it is just as great. And these series at times may seem the same but are completely different, they both keep you on your feet and her writing is different, it is compelling, fast pace and everything you would expected from a fantastic, fantasy author.

I must tell you Ms. Chima, thank-you for these books. I can’t even come up with the words to say how much they mean to me. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next.

The Heir Chronicles


Unreleased
Titles (tentative):The Sorcerer Heir and The Enchanter Heir
Release Dates: Unknown

The Seven Realms Series


Unreleased
Title: The Crimson Crown
Released Year: 2012

Click on the book covers and links to be taken to each book's information page on the author's website.

Cinda Williams Chima began writing romance novels in middle school, which were frequently confiscated by her English teacher. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling Heir series of young adult fantasy novels. A graduate of the University of Akron and Case Western Reserve.

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