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Showing posts from October, 2013

CONTEST: win an Annabelle doll from The Conjuring, ends 11/8

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So you liked the movie The Conjuring , eh? First off, check out my contest to win the movie on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack (ends 11/4). I now have another contest for my readers, to win an Annabelle doll replica from the film. About the movie: Based on a true story, the movie tells the horrifying account of how famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were summoned to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse which they recently bought. In fighting this powerful demonic being, the Warrens find themselves in the middle of the most terrifying case of their lives! The Conjuring is now out on Blu-ray and DVD! GIVEAWAY: Each household is only eligible to win via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Prize will be sent via Fed

Ticket GIVEAWAY - JFK: A President Betrayed, 11/5 at the Maple Theater (Detroit area) - 5 pairs

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The  Gathr film series giveaways continue this week!  JFK: A President Betrayed  will be playing on Tuesday, November 5th, at 7:30pm at the Maple Theater (Bloomfield Hills, MI). Film synopsis: The death of John F. Kennedy remains among the most compelling mysteries of the 20th century. But what may be more significant are the actions he took that provoked such extreme resentment. Narrated by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, JFK: A President Betrayed uncovers new evidence that reveals how JFK boldly reversed US government policy to embark on secret back-channel peace efforts with Nikita Khrushchev, Fidel Castro and other sworn American enemies. The film brings to light how JFK was subverted by his own advisors and considers how the world might be different had he lived. GIVEAWAY: Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. The ticket giveaway will end this Sunday, November 3rd at 11:59pm EST, and winners will be notified the morning of November 4th.  Winners must respond within 24

Review: Rumtoberfest at Bahama Breeze, through Nov. 3rd

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Bahama Breeze in Troy, MI I'm writing this blog post on a very full stomach, as I've just returned from the Troy, MI Bahama Breeze location after sampling their Rumtoberfest offerings. I first wrote about Bahama Breeze back in February , when they introduced their late-night happy hour promotion, which is ongoing. This month, the restaurant is celebrating Rumtoberfest with a great selection of rum drinks, two of which I was able to try. Bahama Breeze's signature drink for this month is called the Curly Tail, which is named for the colorful lizards that you can find in the islands ... and on my drink: Curly Tail drink. Check out the lizards! Bahama Breeze is also serving flights of "sipping rums," including Clément V.S.O.P. Rhum Agricole, Zaya Gran Reserva 12 Year, and Atlantico “Private Cask” Rum. In addition, each week on their Facebook page , the restaurant is giving away a trip for two to the Bahamas! You read that right - each week , a new winne

FLASH GIVEAWAY: 4 tickets to Disney Jr. Live, 4pm 11/1 at the Palace (Detroit area), ends 10/28

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*Disclosure: I am a Feld Entertainment ambassador. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own. Disney Jr. Live will be at the Palace of Auburn Hills next Friday, November 1st, for one night only, and I have a family four-pack of tickets to give away, as well as a discount offer to use for the 4pm show. First, a bit about the show: Grab your tiaras and doubloons and join us for Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure. Mickey and Minnie are taking their seats too at this never-before-seen live show featuring your favorite characters from Disney Junior's hit series, Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Get swept up in the excitement as Sofia and her family prepare for a royal celebration that helps us all learn the true meaning of being a princess with a special appearance from Cinderella. Then it's off to Never Land where Jake and his swashbuckling friends Izzy and Cubby, with a little help from Peter Pan, battle Captain Hook to unl

Movie Review: 12 Years a Slave

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12 Years a Slave has been receiving a lot of Oscar buzz, and you will find that it is rightfully deserved. In addition to its fantastic cast, the performances in the film are great, and the material is based on a true story: a book of the same title written by Solomon Northup, a free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. This is a movie well worth seeing in the theater, and it should do very well come awards season. Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) lives in New York with his wife and two young children. His wife departs for a few weeks each year to cook at a school, and she brings their children with them. When Solomon is offered a job playing violin at the circus during this time, he accepts; one night after a bit too much to drink, however, he awakens to find himself shackled in a remote underground bunker of sorts. He has been kidnapped by slave traders, and every time he protests that he is a free man, he gets beaten up; eventually, he accepts his new role, of "Pl

GIVEAWAY: The Conjuring on Blu-ray/DVD, ends 11/4

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The Conjuring  was one of the scariest films to be released this year (so I've heard ... I avoid scary movies like these!) and I have a a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for you to win. About the movie: Based on a true story, the movie tells the horrifying account of how famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were summoned to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse which they recently bought. In fighting this powerful demonic being, the Warrens find themselves in the middle of the most terrifying case of their lives! The Conjuring is now out on Blu-ray and DVD! GIVEAWAY: Each household is only eligible to win via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Prize will be sent via FedEx or UPS - no P.O. Boxes, please. Contest

GIVEAWAY: Halloween Spook-tacular DVD, ends 10/28

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Halloween is almost here, and I have a giveaway for my lucky readers! What is the best part about Halloween? The pumpkin carving? The costumes? The free candy? All are amazing, but whether you are the bunch that loves dressing up and scaring the neighbors or you plan to stay-in, Warner Bros. has a line-up of Spook-Tacular Movies to get you in the holiday spirit. From classics like It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown & Scooby-Doo The Goblin King to Adventure Time – Jake the Dad, you can count on a spook-tacular selection that the entire family can enjoy! Before you and the kids take the neighborhood by storm, get in the mood by sharing some spooky stories! Download copies of the Spook-Tacular Story Time PDF, fire up the flashlights, and gather in a circle..... this Halloween it's STORY TIME! Perfect for kids ages 7 to 73! GIVEAWAY: Each household is only eligible to win via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you hav

Ticket GIVEAWAY: The Body, 10/29 at the Maple Theater (Detroit area) - 5 pairs

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The  Gathr film series giveaways continue this week!  The Body  will be playing on Tuesday, October 29th, at 7:30pm at the Maple Theater (Bloomfield Hills, MI). Film synopsis: The investigation of a mysterious accident leads Inspector Jaime Peña to the morgue, where he discovers that the body of a woman, MAYKA VILLAVERDE, has disappeared from one of the refrigerated rooms without a trace. Completely bewildered, JAIME and his team seal off the morgue and start looking for evidence with ALEX ULLOA’s help, MAYKA’s husband. He is the only one who could lead them to an answer regarding her mysterious disappearance, as he is the only one who knows all of her secrets. However, as the night draws on, a storm isolates the morgue and a series of strange phenomena begin to occur.  GIVEAWAY: Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. The ticket giveaway will end this Sunday, October 27th at 11:59pm EST, and winners will be notified the morning of October 28th.  Winners must respond within 24

Ticket Giveaway: All is Lost (Robert Redford), in theaters starting 10/18

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The film All is Lost  hits theaters on October 18th in LA and NYC (nationwide on October 25th), and you can win two tickets to see it! Movie Synopsis: Academy Award® winner Robert Redford stars in All Is Lost, an open-water thriller about one man’s battle for survival against the elements after his sailboat is destroyed at sea. But with the sun unrelenting, sharks circling and his meager supplies dwindling, the ever-resourceful sailor soon finds himself staring his mortality in the face. Written and directed by Academy Award nominee J.C. Chandor (Margin Call) with a musical score by Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros), All Is Lost is a gripping, visceral and powerfully moving tribute to ingenuity and resilience. “OFF THE SCALE BRILLIANT” - Emma Pritchard Jones. THE HUFFINGTON POST "ROBERT REDFORD DELIVERS A TOUR DE FORCE PERFORMANCE” - Pete Hammond. DEADLINE GIVEAWAY : Each household is only eligible to win via blog reviews and giveaways. Only on

Review and GIVEAWAY: 9thandElm.com ($400 in prizes!), ends 10/31

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Disclosure:  This is a Fashionista Event. I was given a promotional item to review by 9thandElm.com to share my opinions about the website. All opinions are my own. Whether I'm going to the movies, out for dinner, or just hanging out with friends, I like to accessorize with jewelry. I actually don't let myself buy earrings anymore because I have so many of them, but I'm always on the hunt for a good necklace or bracelet. There's a new website in town that gives you designer fashion at reduced prices, named  9thandElm.com ( 9thelm.com ) , and recently I was given the opportunity to review the website in exchange for $70 in credit. About 9thandElm.com:  9thandElm.com was founded by Clay and Elly Bethune in the spring of 2013 with a mission to bring its members fabulous fashion from the best handmade and independent designers. We realize it is extremely difficult to sort through and discover handmade fashion geared towards the "fashionista." Search no l

Ticket Giveaway: I'm in Love with a Church Girl, in theaters 10/18

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The film I'm in Love with a Church Girl  hits theaters on October 18th, and you can win two tickets to see it! Movie Synopsis: Have you ever had a crush that changed EVERYTHING? Miles Montego has it all. Including a past, but when Miles meets Vanessa Leon, a woman who is different than every other woman he’s met, he is drawn to her beauty and her faith. Increasingly, he is torn between a life that he knows and a love that he feels. As Vanessa experiences his lavish lifestyle, mobster-type friends, and encounters with past women, Vanessa must reconcile her faith in God and her growing love for Miles. I’M IN LOVE WITH A CHURCH GIRL is a powerful, inspiring story of a love between a man and a woman, a gift of second chances, and a family at home and in church that never stops praying and believing. I'm in Love with a Church Girl CAST: Jeff "Ja Rule" Atkins Adrienne Bailon Stephen Baldwin Michael Madsen TobyMac GIVEAWAY : Each household is only eligibl

Guest Post - A Beginner’s Guide to Latin American Cinema: My Top 5

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Today we have a guest post by Laura Moulden about Latin American cinema, including her top five movies and a bit of general background about the genre.  Laura Moulden First thing’s first, this is a beginner’s guide because I am a beginner. A veritable newbie to the film industry, I have just completed my first ever ten minute script. And this recent foray into film has led me on a path of discovery. Moving away from Hollywood and into more niche areas, I’ve discovered a world of amazing new titles that have opened my eyes to the power and complexities of modern cinema. Most recently: Latin American style. So, a bit of background… Latin American cinema is a mish-mash of cinematic styles and textures originating predominantly from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. State and foreign films have been and still are the main channels of film-making, but in recent years, home-grown, artsy films like La Mujer Sin Cabeza (The Headless Woman) have become more commonplace. Now with an esti

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Autoluminescent, Tues. 10/22 at the Maple Theater (Detroit area) - 5 pairs

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After a short break, we're back with the Gathr film series giveaways this week!  Autoluminescent  will be playing on Tuesday, October 22nd, at 7:30pm at the Maple Theater (Bloomfield Hills, MI). Film synopsis: From myth to legend Rowland Howard appeared on the early Melbourne punk scene like a phantom out of Kafkaesque Prague or Bram Stoker’s Dracula. A beautifully gaunt and gothic aristocrat, the unique distinctive fury of his guitar style shot him directly into the imagination of a generation. He was impeccable, the austerity of his artistry embodied in his finely wrought form, his obscure tastes and his intelligently wry wit. He radiated a searing personal integrity that never seemed to tarnish. Despite the trials and tribulations of his career, in an age of makeover and reinvention, Rowland Howard never ‘sold out’. With recent and moving interviews, archival interviews and other fascinating and original footage, AUTOLUMINESCENT traces the life of Rowland S Howard. Captu

Movie Review: Captain Phillips

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Captain Phillips is based on the true story of Somali pirates boarding an American freighter in 2009 in the hopes of holding the crew and cargo hostage for ransom. From what I later read about the story, the movie follows it very closely, and Tom Hanks should get an Oscar nomination for his role in the film. Captain Richard Phillips (Hank) embarks on the Maersk Alabama, heading towards Mombasa, Kenya, while carrying cargo and supplies for Africans. Soon, however, the ship is hijacked by Somali pirates, who are overjoyed to learn that it's an American ship - it means a big pay day for them. Captain Phillips saw them coming, and his crew hid in the steam/boiler room, but the pirates want to look around the ship, and he's worried that they'll find the crew. He makes a deal with them: he'll give them the $30,000 in the ship's safe as well as the lifeboat, as long as they get off the ship. They agree, but at the last minute, they steal him too, and he's stuck as

GIVEAWAY: DreamWorks Movie Bundle, including Shrek the Musical (ends 10/20)

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The Top DreamWorks Characters to Watch This Halloween Available on DVD October 15th The approach of Halloween means that the weather is getting cooler and it’s the perfect time of year for family movie nights on the couch at home. All of the scary movies being shown on TV aren’t exactly family friendly, so as a parent you may be finding it difficult to come up with things to watch with your little ones. Luckily for you, DreamWorks is releasing three fantastic films on DVD this month! Below, you can find out more about the characters to be watching in these family-friendly titles this Halloween. Shrek the Musical The greatest fairy tale never told comes to life as never before in DreamWorks’ Shrek The Musical,  the highly acclaimed Broadway production based on the smash-hit movie. Called a “triumph of comic imagination” (Elysa Gardner,  USA Today ) that “never stints on spectacle or laughs” (David Rooney,  Variety ), Shrek The Musical

GIVEAWAY: Pacific Rim on Blu-ray, ends 10/25

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Pacific Rim  is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on October 15th, and I have a chance for you to win a copy! I reviewed the movie back in July and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. GIVEAWAY: Our sponsor has some new rules for these types of contests: Each household is only eligible to win 1 Pacific Rim Blu-Ray via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Got it? Good. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Prize will be sent via FedEx or UPS - no P.O. Boxes, please.  Contest ends on Friday, October 25th at 11:59pm EST,  and winner will be contacted via email on October 26th  and have 24 hours  to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen. U.S./Canada only, please. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY: Grace Unplugged prize pack, ends 10/22

Grace Unplugged  is currently playing in theaters, and I have a prize pack  to give away to one of my lucky readers. Movie synopsis: Sometimes, chasing your dreams leads you right to where you belong! Having just turned 18, Grace Trey aspires to more than just singing at her church where her father, a former pop star, is the worship leader. So, with the help of Mossy, her dad's former manager, Grace records a cover version of her dad's old Top-10 hit, runs off to Los Angeles, and begins to taste the kind of stardom she's always dreamed about. Yet with each rung of the ladder she climbs, Grace feels more and more pressure to compromise her values, further straining her relationship with her parents. Will everything she experiences lead her to reject her faith… or rediscover it? Grace Unplugged opens in theaters October 4 and is “Family Approved” by the Dove Foundation. The Grace Unplugged Cast: AJ Michalka James Denton Kevin Pollak Michael Welch Grace U

Movie Review: Gravity

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This review is hard to write, because Gravity is a unique movie. On one hand, the visuals were amazing - it really felt like the characters were in space. On the other, the characters aren't really developed at all, save for a few facts thrown here and there, and I wanted more character development. It wasn't really my kind of movie but if you see movies for the special effects and not the plot/characters, you'll be dazzled by it. Astronauts Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) are working on their ship when their mission is aborted and they're told to head back to their ship right away: the Russians have fired a missile into their own satellite, and debris from the attack is heading straight towards them at a rate of 10,000 miles per hour. They end up being too slow, and debris hits their ship; when they get back to the ship, they find the other astronaut who was outside of the ship, plus the rest of the crew, dead. Matt is the "dri

Movie Review: Runner Runner

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Runner Runner looked like a slick gambling movie based on its trailer, and most of that "coolness" definitely was portrayed on-screen as well. It's a good choice for a matinee, but I wouldn't buy a full-price ticket for it - it's a fun film but definitely a "popcorn movie." Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake) is working on his Masters degree in finance at Princeton. The dean calls him into his office to warn him that gambling on campus is illegal - Furst is an affiliate for a gambling site called Midnight Black, where he steers students to the site in exchange for a commission. Richie is in need of $60K in tuition, and since his income has now been cut off, he heads to the site to do some gambling. He loses all of his money, however, and one of his computer-savvy friends finds out that the website actually cheated him. Richie hops on a plane to Costa Rica, where Midnight Black is based, to get a one-on-one with Ivan Block (Ben Affleck), the founder and

TICKET GIVEAWAY: The Other Shore, 10/8, Maple Theater (Detroit area) - 5 pairs

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The Gathr film series giveaways continue this week, and the movie looks like a good one:  The Other Shore . The film will be playing on Tuesday, October 8th, at 7:30pm at the Maple Theater (Bloomfield Hills, MI). Film synopsis: One woman sets out to prove that will and determination can make the unimaginable possible. The Other Shore tracks legendary swimmer Diana Nyad’s lifetime vision and four harrowing attempts to swim non-stop from Cuba to Florida. A complex past collides with an obsessive present over a dangerous 60-hour feat never before accomplished. GIVEAWAY: Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. The ticket giveaway will end this Sunday, October 6th at 11:59pm EST, and winners will be notified the morning of October 7th.  Winners must respond within 24 hours or other winner(s) will be chosen. Tickets are in PDF form and will be emailed to winners, who may print two tickets each (one for you + one for a guest). Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway