Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Friday, February 7, 2020

February Releases

February Releases
This February, with Valentine's Day right around the corner and a slew of films are coming out to spread a little movie magic love.  Probably the top three queries for this month's box office potentials are: can the acting talents of Jim Carrey offset the unnervingly creepy 3d design of Sonic the Hedgehog? Can director Tom McCarthy bottle what made the Diary of a Wimpy Kid flicks so successful as he brings Timmy Failure, another juvenile diary series darling, to life on the big screen under Disney's sanitizing eye? And lastly, can Harley Quinn and her Birds of Prey flock together with enough star power to wipe the taste of Suicide Squad out of everybody's mouths?  Stay tuned, and we'll find out.
Other big releases this month include an adaptation of Jack London's classic tale starring one of the original badass dogs in literature and the millionth latest remake of Jane Austin's quintessential fine wine, Emma.

In video game land, though Moon Studio's Ori and the Will of the Wisps, the sequel to their gorgeous and award-winning 2015 masterpiece Ori and the Blind Forest, has been punted from its original February 11th release date down to early March, One Punch Man fans should rejoice at that One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows will finally claw its way out of development hell to see the light of day towards the end of the month.

 For more dish on the latest in entertainment releases, check out the candy platter below.



Movies

Games


Music 

Television
https://www.tvguide.com/coming-soon/

See you at the movies!
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Saturday, November 2, 2019

November Releases

November Releases
Holiday season is right around the corner, and with it brings a slew of new media goodies to keep you happy through all the shopping, plane rides, and other inconveniences of this jolly time of the year.  Probably the biggest story this month is the return of Disney's newest non-Pixar poster child feature, Frozen 2, where Elise sets out along with Anna, and the rest of the crew to discover the source of her mysterious powers.  Tom Hanks returns to the big screen with a feel good biopic about everyone's favorite neighbor, Fred Rogers.  Christmas comes early with Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding in tow with romantic comedy Last Christmas, followed by Anna Kendrick as Santa's daughter who's forced to take over the family business in Noelle.

There's so much coming out this month on all fronts, but you don't have to take my word for it; as always, follow the links below to check out the latest in entertainment releases. 
Movies

Games


Music 

Television

See you at the movies!
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Friday, August 2, 2019

August releases

August Releases


Historically a well-known box office drought month, August occupies an unenviable position between summer blockbusters and holiday fireworks which leaves little to expect most years - at least where the major big-budget Hollywood productions are concerned.  It's rather fitting, then, that this month's leading flick is Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw, essentially a side story to the beloved full-throttle action series which, nonetheless, shows considerable promise as a good outing at the matinee.  Joining the titular bash brothers are other (hopefully) fair-to-middling productions, like Nicholas Cage's newest box office Hail Mary where he plays an ex-con on borrowed time seeking bloody retribution against his former gang; and Melissa McCarthy's latest meander into drama with The Kitchen, a tale of three housewives literally married to the mob who find a deadly purpose in crime after their significant others get sent up the river.  

Leaving the movies aside, there's a whole world of entertainment out there this month sure to light a spark in anyone, whether in the realms of music, literature, or video games.  The links below, as always, will lead you to this month's bag of goodies:

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Tuesday, March 5, 2019

March Releases

March Releases



So what does the first month of spring have in store for us?  Well, besides a certain - ahem - divisive superhero movie from Marvel, a couple of other potential gems that may get lost in the controversy.  Spring seems to bring out the action affectionados, as aside from the aforementioned obligatory spandex jam, Western fans are getting their fix with The Kid and Never Grow Old, while period pieces The Highwaymen and Mission of Honor look at Bonnie Clyde and the Battle of Britain, respectively, through a pulse-racing lens.  Meanwhile, quieter, more contemplative flicks abound as well, like The Mustang, about a prisoner reconnecting with his humanity through taming an unbreakable bronco; and Five Feet Apart, a romantic tale of two cystic fibrosis patients in love, which puts a different twist on the whole "forbidden love" paradigm.

For the gamers,  action-adventure icon Devil May Cry premieres with its fifth entry, along with the latest installment of Team Ninja's fanservice display fighting game series Dead or Alive.
To catch up on these and more entertainment releases, check out the links below, as always.


Movies

Games


 
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Monday, December 3, 2018

Decamber Releases

December Releases

My, how the year flies by.  December is already upon us, and the end of the year is bursting with the usual holiday theater sweeps, along with a few extra trimmings.  The big screen story is dominated by the superhero/fantasy block, with Aquaman, the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and the screen adaptation of book one of Phillip Reeve's steampunk epic Mortal Engines all vying for you box office dollars.  But they aren't the only heavy hitters this season; literature icon Mary Poppins makes her triumphant return to the big screen with...well, Mary Poppins Returns, while Clint Eastwood shows us how age really is just a number in The Mule, where he plays the titular drug mule hoping to outrun both the law, his "employers," and his past.  Last but not least, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle will make its Netflix debut after a ho-hum theatrical release last week.  Here's hoping for a more favorable reception on the small screen. 
If you're looking for stocking stuffer for the gamer in your life, the industry's got your back despite the December drag with Just Cause 4, the latest installment in the action-adventure sandbox series, as well as the highly anticipated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For those in the mood for something a little different, the renowned Persona RPG series will release Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight worldwide on the 4th. Both games will blend the franchise's signature RPG elements with a rhythm game ala Dance Dance Revolution.  

 And as always, check out the links below for more entertainment goodies to bring you some good ole' fashioned seasonal cheer:

Movies

Games



Happy holidays, and see you at the movies!

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Monday, July 2, 2018

July Releases

July Releases



July's here, baby, and Mo McRae and others are already setting off fireworks this Tuesday with the release of The First Purge, the latest installment in James DeMonaco's infamous film series covering - you guessed it - the first Purge, a concept that somehow manages to make less sense as the series expands. Marvel takes another stab at box office glory with Ant-Man and the Wasp, while Hotel Transylvania 3, Teen Titans GO to the Movies, and Netflix release Duck Duck Goose are likely to remind all of us yet again why Disney/Pixar has snagged 12 out of 17 Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature. Rounding out the box office are a couple of sequels, which are sure to sate everyone's high-flying, bad guy-blasting, summer blockbuster needs.

Check out below for more of what's coming out this July:

  

Movies

Games




See you at the movies! 
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Saturday, June 2, 2018

June Releases

June Releases

You know what time it is...
We're hitting the mid-year stride, and the first month of summer blockbusters already reels us in with some major hits in the cinema game.  The two most anticipated films are undoubtedly Pixar's long-awaited sequel to their 2004 flash of superhero brilliance, The Incredibles; and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, a continuation of the less-brilliant-but-still-fun Jurassic World.  Not sure what it says that when the two hottest tickets in a month are both emblematic of Hollywood's sequelitis, but eh - moving on...

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Friday, December 1, 2017

December Premieres

December Releases



Alright, let's get real: we all know what the biggest story is this month.  You know - a certain internationally renowned modern mythology?  Starts with an "s," rhymes with "tar pours?"  Whether you're a new fan, an old staple to the franchise, or even just a casual moviegoer with a pulse, odds are you will be seeing Star Wars: The Last Jedi if nothing else this December.  I honestly feel bad for the poor slobs that have to open on the same weekend, but hey - you never know.  Besides that gaping crater on the surface of the end-year movie world, Jumanji is getting set for a modern face life courtesy of Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and others, while Hugh Jackman stretches his post-Logan legs in P.T. Barnum biopic The Greatest Showman.  Last but certainly not least, Anna Kendrick brings her rag-tad girl posse back together for one last song in the conclusion of the well-regarded Pitch Perfect trilogy.

Check out the links down below to find out what else is popping in the entertainment world:

Movies

Games


Music

See you at the movies!

 
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Tuesday, September 5, 2017

September Releases

September Releases


August's box office drought has finally given way to the meandering brook of September, and there's a lot to talk about here.  The biggest news undoubtedly is the terrifying new adaptation of Stephen King's coulrophobic horror IT.  The tale of a group of child outcasts banding together to confront the frightful specter of Pennywise the Clown is one of King's crowing achievements, and this new twist on the old tale is sure to both rile up old fears and raise new fans in its wake.  Other premieres this month include Reese Witherspoon's romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama in L.A. Home Again; mother!, a psychological thriller from the same mind behind Black Swan; and the action comedy sequel Kingsman: the Golden Circle.  

On the television front, Fox is bringing space back with a twist, eschewing the pretense of high drama a la Star Trek and going for a comedy-drama bent in Seth MacFarlane's The Orville. Fans of The Big Bang Theory shouldn't miss Young Sheldon, a spinoff/prequel starring everyone's favorite socially inept genius as he bumbles through high school at the tender age of 9.  And speaking of The Big Bang Theory, it's coming back this month, along with a host of other favorites, like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Lethal Weapon, and Grey's Anatomy. 

For the dedicated gamer, online FPS Destiny 2 and the latest addition to Capcom's legacy crossover fighting series Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite are probably the hottest items on the September ticket.   Meanwhile, your music buff will probably cheer (or groan) as Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato engage in a little battle of Disney child stars-turn pop princesses through their respective albums dropping on the same day, while Shania Twain breaks her 15-year silence to release Now.  And last but not least, there's plenty of thoughtful sci fi and tales both real and unreal to keep the bookworm in your life satisfied.


Movies

Television

Games


Music
http://www.allmusic.com/newreleases

See you at the movies!




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Wednesday, August 2, 2017

August Releases

August Releases



Well, August holds fast to its reputation as the most mind-numbingly dry movie month of the year; there's little to speak of, save for the long-awaited film adaptation of Stephen King's fantasy magnum opus.  Besides that, Al Gore steps back in the ring to go another round against global warming in an expansion to his late July limited release, and...well, that's about it, really.

Television (and Netflix) is cranking out a new wave of pre-fall seeries, including Marlon and Marvel's the Defenders.  Check out these and other hot new releases down below. 




Movies

Television

Games


Music

See you at the movies 

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Tuesday, May 2, 2017

May Releases

May Releases

So April's showers have left a few puddles in their wake.  Will May bring the expected late spring blooms?  If so, they're already off to a good start, with Guardian of the Galaxies Vol. 2 storming into theaters this coming Friday.  Tailing close behind is Alien: Covenant, the follow-up to Ridley Scott's Prometheus and another notch in his pre-Alien prequel series.  And, of course, the obligatory sequelitis diagnosis rounds out the big-name movies, with the latest Pirates of the Caribbean and Diary of a Wimpy Kid hedging in the last two weeks of the month.

Among the hot new games set to premiere this month, two stand out: Injustice 2, a sequel to the 2013 DC hero hit Injustice: Gods Among Us; and Prey, a re-imaging of the 2006 first-person shooter of the same name.

 Check out below for more, along with this month's hottest books, albums, and television premieres:



Movies

Television

Games

Books



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Sunday, April 2, 2017

April Releases

April Releases



A new month, and that means new premieres and releases to dive into.  There's...really not much to write home about on the movie front, unless talking blueberries and Vin Diesel's latest tough guy car fu are your thing.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Good thing there's a parade of fresh shows, cool games, and awesome music and books to round out the box office's comparative sluggishness:




Movies

Television

Games

Books


See you at the movies!

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Friday, March 3, 2017

March Releases

March Releases





 March is here, and with it, a tidal wave of new movies and new media crying out for our attention - including a favorite Aussie actor's swan song for a career-building role, a little monkey madness with the King of Apes, and a group of teens out to save the world with mechanized suits and karate chops.

Meanwhile, in video game land it seems like every platform is flooded with tons of new titles and DLCs, giving the dedicated gamer some choice picks for entertainment this month.



Movies

Television

Games

Books



See you at the movies!
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Saturday, September 3, 2016

September Releases

September Releases





Hmm...I think August and September got their wires crossed somewhere up the line.  This month's pretty dry on the movie side of things, a pretty rare occurrence for this time of year.  There are a few pinch hitters in the second half of it, like Storks and the...unexpected adaptation of Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children; but beyond that (which isn't much, really) and the mandatory limited release gems you'd be lucky to catch, it's probably going to be a pretty quiet box office.

Television is much the same, with mostly a lot of season premieres of long-runners.  Oh, and a new Lethal Weapon series coming out on the 21st.  Yay.

...Might be a good time to pick up that book again - you know, the one you told yourself you were going to finish a few months back, but never did?  Just saying.


Movies

Television

Games

Books


See you at the movies!  Maybe... 


 
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Wednesday, June 1, 2016

June Releases

June Releases






Summer's in full swing now, and it's like every studio's waited until juuust the right time to bombard us with a flurry of sequels.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Now You See Me 2, The Conjuring 2, Independence Day: Resurrection (seriously - what?) -  they're all clamoring for our precious time and billfolds.  Hard to say what will or will not work yet, but I'm sure Finding Dory is likely to bring up all sorts of nostalgia for anyone touched by the original.  

Everything else might need the favor of the Cinema Gods just to keep from going down in flames.

Movies

Games

Music

Books

See you at the movies! 
 
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Saturday, April 2, 2016

April Releases

April Releases





Well, it's that time again, and these April showers bring along some old classics revamped, along with some fresh blood promising a whole new movie experience.   On the music scene, Canadian indie outfit The Strumbellas are set to release Hope later this month, so be sure to catch it when you can.


Movies

Games

Music

Books

 
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Saturday, March 5, 2016

March Releases

March Releases





Here is a taste of just some of the cools stuff set to premiere this March.

Movies

Television

Games

Music

Books

See you at the movies! 
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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Book Review: Leonardo's Legacy

LeonardoLegacy





Book: Leonardo’s Legacy: How da Vinci Reimagined the World
Author: Stefan Klein
Cambridge, MA : Da Capo Press, c2010

Curiosity isn’t just a gift–it’s a gateway. Children endowed with an unquenchable thirst for figuring things out will be a real force in the world–as long as they never lose the simple joy in finding the bridge between knowing and not knowing. As a kid, that bridge was always over another horizon, obscured by a mountain of books and a plethora of facts, equations, theories, and gadgets–the collected wreckage of my endless pursuit for understanding.  I used to fumble through my local library, digesting facts, flitting from shelf to shelf and from subject to subject. It was there that I first discovered the quintessential “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo di Vinci. The fabled “Universal Genius” was my first encounter with the polymath concept, and every book on him I explored filled me with the hope that it was both possible and desirable to be a jack-of-all-trades and master of some.

But there was something missing. Many authors tended to rattle off his accomplishments like a Wikipedia list: he IS a scientist-mathematician-painter-sculptor-anatomist-writer-engineer. Any insight into his mind, his motivations, are usually swept under the rug or left unexamined. But there is one notable exception: Leonardo’s Legacy: How da Vinci Reimagined the World. A spectacular book penned by Stefan Klein, noted physicist and essayist, it departs from the laudatory fluff of most da Vinci biographies and examines some of the core tenets driving not just the man, but the polymath paradigm as a whole.

For instance, while da Vinci’s extensive resume usually places “mathematician” near the top, he in fact only knew the basics of long division–pretty advanced for his time, but hardly the stuff of pure genius. Instead of firing labels like a rabid kid with a paint gun, Klein looks for the origin of da Vinci’s unique mind view in his notes, letters, and sketches. As it turns out, da Vinci’s drive and most of his discoveries sprung from his pursuit of the ideal expression of art. His examinations into anatomy were born out of dissatisfaction with the outdated models of his time, so often used by artists; his discoveries in optics were spurred by his obsession with accurate light and shadow, and his engineering feats were extensions of these findings, fed also by his need for patronage and the demands of his volatile slice of Italy. Klein presents da Vinci’s achievements as both an extension of his artistry and as an outgrowth of his social and historical context.

By moving his development and discoveries beyond the vague and unhelpful “genius” label, Klein introduced me to a fuller and, dare I say, more accurate model of the “Renaissance soul.” Da Vinci never viewed his varied accomplishments in isolation. Though stricken by a lifelong love for knowledge, he tried to fit what he learned into a comprehensive framework, one much greater than the sum of its parts. Though Klein doesn’t quite mention it by name, his book is a nice primer on the idea of “systems thinking”–an approach to problem solving that views different elements and ideas in the world as part of a larger, interconnected whole, however isolated they appear. To da Vinci and other polymaths, knowledge isn’t just a series of disparate facts, separate leaves to be admired and collected in isolation. The objective is always to get at the “root,” so to speak, to see the tree in its entirety–leaves, branches, and all.

Unfortunately, Klein also points out just how fragile this peculiar brand of curiosity can be when not nurtured or funded by a generous patron. He argues that while we often lament the dearth of “modern day da Vincis,” our current emphasis on specialization and compartmentalization in education can hammer a budding polymath’s interests flat. This, of course, is a debatable point–but even so, Leonardo’s Legacy is a great book for anyone whose passions branch in many directions by offering a peek into one of our most illustrious champions.

Recommendation: Must Read









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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

February Releases

February Releases





Hey, everyone - sorry I've been a little slow with the blog, real-life writing assignments have proven to be stubbornly persistent.  That said, I can't pass up the chance to share this month's media goodies, and there will be a lot more reviews coming up, I promise:

Movies

 Television

Games

Music

Anime

Books

See you at the movies! 
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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

December Releases

 December Releases
It's new release time once again, and this month's loaded with lots of cool movies that are bound to...
Hah!  Nope, couldn't say that with a straight face.  Sorry - it ain't happening.
 Let's get this out of the way right now: we all know this month's pretty much about one thing, right?  Like - I don't know - a certain movie that starts a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away?  Ring any bells?  Yes?  Good.
In all seriousness, the new Star Wars flick is the movie event of month, if not the entire year - nothing else even comes close.  Some fans have been waiting damn-near thirty years for this, and the circus surrounding it - for better or worse - only seems to grow the closer we get to ground zero on the 18th.  That said, there are some rather interesting non Star Wars things happening this month across mass media: 
Movies
Games
Music 
Books
May the Force be with you!
 
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