Movie Review: The Hunger Games

The numbers are in. Over the weekend Lionsgate's Hunger Games grossed a staggering $155M, which frankly was no surprise.  For more details check out LA Times article. I was one of the minions contributing to that record-breaking number. As previously mentioned, I went to see this on Saturday and as promised, here’s my review. 

Having been so caught up in the frenzy of all things The Hunger Games, I had high expectations for best selling series by Suzanne Collins.  I'm happy to report that Hollywood didn't botch the best seller in 142 minutes.  The movie did a great job interpreting the book.  Was it like the book?  Hell no.  It never is.  Since the book is from Katniss' POV, there were aspects that they had to improvise, but overall, I enjoyed it.

When you’re dealing with a successful book, which this one happens to be my favorite in the series, you automatically know the movie won't capture all the book’s nuances.  Still, as a lover of fiction, you pray that your favorite parts are not ignored.  That being said, it was sort of a mixed bag.  All parts leading up to and the suspense from "the games" were indeed there.  I thought Jennifer Lawrence did an amazing job depicting our heroine.  That said, I was disappointed when scenes like when Katniss first discovers Peeta has an alliance with the Careers from the onset of the games.  In the book, that scene was riveting.  Katniss was shocked, but manages to play it up for the cameras.  That sort of literary brilliance fell short in the film.  Also, I thought the bread scene; Katniss and Peeta's “beginning” was sort of a missed opportunity too.  But hey…what are ya gonna do?

If you love the book, chances are you’ll like to movie.  For me, The Hunger Games movie was a 4 (unlike the book which in my review I rated a 5.)  Why? To be honest, the ending was a slight disappointment.  The scene/ reveal with Peeta & Katniss in the book was heartbreaking.  The movie, however, seemed to pass this over.  As far as characters, some were on point, others were okay.  I won’t tell you which ones.   I’ll let you be the judge.  My husband who didn’t read the book and knows very little of the story thought it was awesome.  He loves classic and sci-fi movies like Usual Suspects, The Godfather or Star Wars and Matrix.  That should give you a different perspective if you haven’t read the book. 

What about you?  Did you get a chance to see the movie?  Did you like it, love it or...? Thoughts?


Mina B.

Fridays with Fred: The Hunger Games

I know what I'm doing this weekend. You? Two of my nieces went to see the movie last night at the midnight showing. I'm dying to know what they think! Cue in whistling music. Did anyone see it? Do you have plans too? I can't wait! The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is my all-time favorite YA novel (my review) I'd be shocked if you didn't read this novel in one sitting. That's how awesome it is! As for the movie...I hope it does the book justice. Stay tuned for my review of the movie on Monday. Here's the trailer if you missed it.

Fred's a fan too!  Fred...don't let them see that pin.

Fred volunteers as tribute!

Remember to stop by and visit Schatze over at Mary’s BookHounds too.

Have a great weekend.

Mina B.

Guest Post by Author, Donna Galanti

I've been screaming through the blogosphere for some time now: "Dark is coming!" Well, minions it's here! Donna Galanti's debut novel, A HUMAN ELEMENT released last week on March 15th! Woot! (Note: If you want to know more about this unique paranormal thriller, check out my book review here.)

This week I'm happy to participate in her dark tour and host Donna as she guest posts on my blog and interviews her unearthly villain, X-10. Please welcome Donna!

Thanks, Mina! I thought it would be fun to give all your blog followers exclusive insight into the sick mind of one of my characters. Are you ready? Dare to meet X-10, the villain of A HUMAN ELEMENT...

Did you have a happy childhood? 
What’s happiness? A word you people use when you have nothing else to say. An empty word representing your pitiful emotions. I didn’t have a childhood. I grew up in a room, alone except for pathetic doctors who made me take tests over and over. And then I killed them all. That was a day I felt happy. Killing takes away the loneliness.

Who are you opposing and why? 
Laura. She gets to live a life I never had. A life with a name. I want a name. Charlie. It’s a nice name, right? But I’m the freak while Laura looks normal. I hate her for that.

Do you think maybe medication could help you? This vengeance thing isn’t healthy.
Medication? Yeah, I’ve had medication. That decrepit doctor pumps me full of drugs to dull my powers. I feel powerless and weak. Like you humans. Like Laura will feel someday, and her stupid lover. You’re annoying me. I don’t like to be annoyed. I don’t need to be near you to kill you, you know.

Okay, okay. So what is it you plan to do once you reach your goal? 
When I escape for this pit I’ll kill that bitch, Laura. But I’ll never kill her from my mind’s eye. This one has to be done in the flesh. Soon her time will come. And she will know what I am. She will watch her lover die and then I will watch her die. I’ll squeeze her perfect limbs between my hands and hear her cry out in pain. Lovely.

What would your mother think of all this? 
I didn’t grow up with a mother, you idiot. I never needed a mother. Mothers are something you humans whine to. I killed my mother before she could have a chance to raise me as a human. Ripped her apart when I was born. I was more powerful then, as a child, than she would ever be. Serves her right.

Nice. So how would you describe yourself? 
Tall and handsome (laughs). More powerful than any one on Earth, with amazing powers of telepathy, telekinesis, and strength. I am the ultimate puppet master of you people. I’m invincible. You can’t kill me. I have the power to heal myself. I hate wearing your human clothes too. I enjoy being naked and admire my bulging muscles. See?

Hmmm, yes. So who are your closest allies? 
The people I kill. That fat guard whose neck cracked so easily. He was an ally. His truck got me far down the road until it ran out of gas. And the scientist who imprisoned me. He was an ally. When I ripped out his throat he left me his stash of food to gorge on for energy. He served his purpose. The doctor who delivered me and sold me to the government. He was my ally when he led me to Laura. But then he had to die for that.

And now...enjoy and EXCERPT WITH X-10:
X-10 hovered over the doctor’s body. His anger drained away and he felt relief. He returned his mind to his body in the car. He needed to rest before continuing north. Travelling with his powers expended such energy it left him weak. But he needed to leave the car and hide out. He walked into the woods, breathing deep of all the life around him. After heading half a mile into the woods away from the dirt road, he found a hollow and lay down on the ground covering himself in a mound of leaves.

Within a few minutes his body heat warmed him inside his cocoon and X-10 slept. It was his turn to dream of the girl. He chased her as he always did, toying with her before he shredded her throat. But this time she stopped running and turned to walk back towards him. He stopped in his tracks, amazed she would do that when she knew he would kill her.

"Charlie, come with me. I know what you are. We are the same.”

He shook his head, wanting to hate her. How did she know he wanted to be called Charlie? His mission had been to kill her. It had always been so. If it changed now what would he do? What would he become?

“Don’t give into hate.”

“What do you know about hate?” 

“I know hate. And it’s short lived. Love lives forever." She held out her hand. “Come.”

“No!" He rushed towards her but she disappeared and he was left alone, as he had always been.

About A HUMAN ELEMENT:

One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next.

Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite–her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a mad man, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test.

With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his and she has two choices–redeem him or kill him.Readers who devour paranormal books with a smidge of horror and steam will enjoy A HUMAN ELEMENT, the new novel about loss, redemption, and love.


Reviewers are saying…

“A HUMAN ELEMENT is an elegant and haunting first novel. Unrelenting, devious but full of heart. Highly recommended.” –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of ASSASSIN’S CODE and DEAD OF NIGHT

“A HUMAN ELEMENT is a haunting look at what it means to be human. It’s a suspenseful ride through life and love…and death, with a killer so evil you can’t help but be afraid. An excellent read.” –Janice Gable Bashman, author of WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award.

BIO:
Donna Galanti is the author of the dark novel A Human Element (Echelon Press). She won first place for Words on the Wall Fiction at the 2011 Philadelphia Writer’s Conference. Donna has a B.A. in English and a background in marketing. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, The Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and Pennwriters. She lives with her family in an old farmhouse in PA with lots of nooks, fireplaces, and stinkbugs. Visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com

LIKE Donna’s Author Facebook page for news and updates! Her tour runs through April 11thh with book giveaways, more guest posts, and interview fun, and a chance to win the big prize giveaway! So pop over to her blog to see the full tour schedule.

Connect with Donna here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DonnaGalanti
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor
Blog: http://blog.donnagalanti.com/wp/

Purchase A HUMAN ELEMENT via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

Book Review: MaryJanice Davidson's Undead and Unemployed

I’m excited beyond words to announce that MaryJanice Davidson will be stopping by my blog soon.  I caught up with her recently and can't wait to share some telling insight into this New York Times and USA Today best-selling author.  For those unaware, Davidson pens the wickedly successful Undead series; an adult paranormal romance series starring the vampire queen of the undead herself, Betsy Taylor.  Two years ago, I posted my review for Book 1, Undead and Unwed.  In short, I loved it! (my review)

And now to celebrate my upcoming author interview, I'll be reviewing a few more of her Undead novels.  Today I wanted to highlight Book 2, Undead and Unemployed.  In Book 1, fans were stunned with the twist at the end of Undead and Unwed.  Consort be damned according to Betsy.  Eric Sinclair, the rat, can go to the devil for all Betsy cares.  At the beginning of Undead and Unemployed, it's been months since Betsy’s spoken and seen her King, but none of that matters. Why? Because Betsy the ever unconventional vampire needs a job. She's even trudged down to the unemployment, searching for assistance. Can the undead get unemployment? In Betsy's world, anything is possible. But we soon learn there's murder lurking in Minnesota, threatening to kill off her subjects.  A band of spirited teenagers are slaying her people and Queen Betsy, of course, gets caught up in the drama–most of which she creates.

As Betsy learns to hold the reigns of her kingdom, she fumbles her way hilariously through her monarchy.  With Eric’s undermining, Tina’s undying loyalty plus a whole new cast of characters, Betsy will have to learn fast who she can trust.  Being Queen of the Undead isn't easy, but Betsy being "Betsy" makes it worse.  Luckily, this diva uses her fashion sense and her lust for life (undead or not) to preserver and conquer heart-staking vampires and of course love.

Undead and Unemployed was a comical and intriguing read and a delightful addition to the series. If you haven’t had a chance to read this one…get on it!

Favorite line – Betsy surmising Sinclair pre reconciliation: “A true irony: I’d had to die to meet someone truly spectacular, and it turned out I couldn’t stand him.”
Mina B.

Tim Burton's Dark Shadows & Fridays with Fred

I have to apologize for this week for no posts.  Between renovating, house guests, internet connections and last but not least computer issues, I couldn't pull it together.  Thankfully my computer issue will be resolved later today since I had to order a part.  Anyway, here's a post I've been wanted to do for sometime.  Luckily, the movie trailer released yesterday for the goth classic, Dark Shadows. 

From the original to the updated version, what can we look forward to in the coming months with Tim Burton's remake of the unearthly soap classic, Dark Shadows.  At first, all we had to go on were images alone.  For those that have never seen the episodes of the original click here.  Additionally, there was a TV movie remake in the 80's - which I posted last year here.

About the original story from Wikipedia
The beginning of the show introduces Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) and the members of the Collins family, who reside on top of Widows’ Hill in a house called Collinwood in Collinsport, Maine. Victoria was orphaned, and she came to Collinwood in order to find out more about her eerie past. David Collins (David Henesy) would constantly tell Victoria of the ghosts he saw. Victoria also encountered the ghost of Josette Collins (Kathryn Leigh Scott) when she was looking through the closed-off west wing of Collinwood... (To read more visit Wikipedia)

Yesterday Warner Brothers released the website for the movie: http://www.darkshadowsmovie.com and...Apple has officially posted the trailer here if you're interested - http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/darkshadows/

I wanted to post the clip here too since I'm such a fan of Burton.  So...what do you think?

And of course here is Fred...under the bed.

 

Remember to stop by and visit Schatze over at Mary’s BookHounds too.

Have a great weekend.

Mina B.

2nd Campaign Challenge & Fridays with Fred

First up, today is the last day to post the 2nd Campaign Challenge. I chose Prompt 1, added in a brief poem and wrote in a different genre. I don’t normally this YA Dystopian, but if I did…it might be a little like this.

The Nether's Son


The Rising’s madness descended upon us like a frenzied spirit. Nightly winds carried bomb reverberations and smoke streaks across the blackened sky. The ear-piercing cries eventually ceased, but death’s stench lingered. 

Liam and I found sanctuary under the ruins of Hye's Bridge. We hid there, waiting for the Bellor’s Vars to finish attacking Dridle, our home.

Home. It was gone now.

I read the scribe aloud.

Unite all that is left one by one
Forging on behalf of the Nether’s son
Spirits will guide thee past the iron hand
For the son must conquer the forbidden land

“What’s it mean?” I asked.

“Don’t know.” Liam lied, but I forgave him.  It’s not every day one learns their destiny.

Liam’s efficiently dressed my leg wound again. With the Bellor’s airborne venom, precautions were necessary. Liam sat beside me, his hair slick from crossing the dead infested river. We barely made it. 

“Vars won’t come,” Liam said. He was right. Thank the Nethers. I shivered recalling those gangly creatures–products of the Bellors, like me. Liam gripped my hand, worry marred his angelic face. Was he always like this? Yes. But to me, he was breathtaking.

And as far as destinies go, he was mine.

The End.


That's it.  I'm #94!  It's been a trying week so I hope the darn thing make sense.  Critique if you want.  Thanks for stopping by.


Friday's with Fred

I've almost never captured Fred yawning like this. But what do you know...there he goes!

Remember to stop by and visit Schatze over at Mary’s BookHounds too.

Have a great weekend.

Mina B.

ARC Review: A Human Element by Donna Galanti

Today I’m reviewing Donna Galanti's upcoming debut novel, A HUMAN ELEMENT.  Donna must have picked up on my weakness for Dean Koontz, because A HUMAN ELEMENT echoes the bestselling author in terms of creativity, the supernatural and overall dark allure. Add in a little paranormal romance and you've got one delicious literary paranormal mashup.

A HUMAN ELEMENT starts off with a bang, literally.  To the world, a meteorite has crashed near Coopersville's lake located in a remote region in New York state. To a secret government operative, something else crashed near that lakefront…something out of this world.  At the time Ben Fieldstone was only nine and lost everything in the destruction, including his parents.  From that moment on, his life changed miserably as he was then forced into the foster system.  Ben lived under deplorable conditions, always having to watch his back. With a life like that, no wonder he chose a solitary existence for the bulk of his life.  The crash not only caused devastation, it sparked life in a form of beautiful woman name Laura Armstrong.  Born out of desperation, she was adopted and lived a semi-normal, peaceful life with her family and neighbors near the crash site.  Laura is truly a remarkable heroine.  She represents happiness, love, forgiveness and above all hope.  But with her existence, lurks a dark presence; one that haunts her and eventually kills those that she loves.

With the government’s debauching schemes and a strange man in black always watching, does Laura have what it takes to battle the darkness, uncover the truth and save the ones that she loves, including Ben?  What type of a future can two misfits like Ben and Laura have together?  Are they only connected by the crash site or is there more?  Um…I’m not tell’n ya! You’ll just have to get A HUMAN ELEMENT and find out.  And boy let me tell you it is goooood!

Dark is coming my friends and it’s called  A HUMAN ELEMENT. This book peaked my interest from the start.  If you love adult sci-fi/supernatural novels (like a Koontz), but you’re looking for more romance...this is your book.  On my RIP meter, Donna Galanti's  A HUMAN ELEMENT is a 4.  The book releases March 15.  Visit Donna's website for more details.

Mina B.