Trailer: Dracula Untold

I really had no idea that a new Dracula movie was in the works until it pooped up on my FB stream this weekend (occasionally FB does get it right). This looks like an interesting take on the Dracula mythos and Luke Evans is easy on the eyes. Not sure if Dracula Untold is going to be cheesy or good but chances are good that I'll be seeing it either way.

Dracula Untold hits theaters this October.

Extended Trailer: The Flash

Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that they were making a show about The Flash. However, I didn't realize that it had already gone into production and that there were promos and clips already available. I have never read The Flash so I am not familiar with this character at all. The show is from the producers of Arrow, which makes me a little wary, since I am not a big fan of that show. Granted, I have only seen a few episodes and have been meaning to give it another try. This extended trailer is pretty long and gives you a good idea about the tone of the show. I support all comic book endeavors even if I am not info them because it hopefully just opens doors for more of them. I'll give this one a chance. I am not sure about that running around the tornado thing though. I kept thinking he should just run into the guy controlling the tornado to stop it but I am sure there were other circumstances...

The Flash hits television screens everywhere this fall.

Trailer: True Blood Season 7

The seventh and final season of True Blood premieres on June 22. I am way, way behind on this series even though I finished all of the books. I don't know exactly what's been going on in the show but, from this trailer, it looks like a battle is coming. Even though it's pretty campy, I still enjoy the show and all of the man candy it provides. I am kind of bummed that it won't be on anymore but it had a good run. Now that a bunch of seasons are on Amazon Prime, I may finally catch up.

Is anyone tuning in for the premiere this weekend?

Trailer: The Book of Life

I went to the movies a couple of times this weekend and saw the trailer for The Book of Life both times. I am fan of creepy/cute and Day of the Dead so this movie is right up my alley. Visually, it looks pretty awesome and the story interests me as well. I will definitely be checking this one out in October.

Trailer: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Hi, everyone! I could not wait to post the new trailer for Kingsman: The Secret Service that was just released today. I heard about this movie a little while ago but did not know much about it except that Matthew Vaugh (Stardust) was directing and that it has a killer cast. I love gadgets and training sequences so this looks like it's going to be a big win for me. Also - Colin Firth.

For more info and stills from the production, check out comingsoon.net. Kingsman will be released this fall.

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TV Trailer: Constantine

I  had no idea that NBC was producing a Constantine television series until a few weeks ago. Constantine is based on the DC Comics series Hellblazer. I read a bit of Hellblazer in high school and enjoyed it. There was a pretty bad movie adaptation years ago with Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz that I admit I have a soft spot for. It wasn't very good but I love me some Rachel and Keanu.

This trailer looks promising though. This Constantine actually looks like the Constantine from the comics which is a small good sign and the themes look pretty true to the comics. I reserve full judgement until after I watch a few episodes but I am looking forward do this one. Constantine comes to NBC this fall.

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Teaser Trailer: Gone Girl

I am probably one of the few people left who has not yet read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It's on my bookshelf though, promise! I am a big fan of David Fincher though and I think this trailer definitely gives us that creepy vibe he's so good at.  Excited to see this one and plan on reading it before the film comes out.

Gone Girl hits theaters in October.

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Trailer: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Ooh 20th Century Fox just released the full length trailer for X-Men: Days of Future Past. I really can't wait for this movie. I hope it's good. I think this is also our first look at the Sentinels. They always kind of freaked me out as a kid. 

Any other X-Men fans out there?

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New Trailer: The Giver

Good morning! The trailer for The Giver, based on the book of the same name by Lois Lowery, was just released today. Check it out!

I haven't read The Giver yet (shhhh don't tell) and am an on the fence about the movie. I mean I love Meryl Streep but she is almost negated by Katie Holmes, who I feel is a really lifeless actor. The trailer is also pretty vague. Looks like any generic dystopian film right now, but I reserve judgement for now.

What do you guys think? Anyone out there read the book already and can tell if it looks true to the book or not? I'd love to know. Happy hump day!
 

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Trailer: Sin City

Looks like there is a new trailer for Sin City 2. I really liked the first Sin City so I am excited to see how this one turns our. Plus, JGL. 'Nuff said.

I love how these movies are shot. Good thing I actually just checked out the first Sin City trade paperback from the library to reacquaint myself with the story. Sin City 2 doesn't hit theaters until this fall.

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Liv's Current Obsession: Why I Love Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Frequently, I find myself thanking Alethea (@frootjoos) over at Read Now, Sleep Later for introducing me to new television series.  Two of my favorites are Murdoch Mysteries from Canada and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries from Australia.  I seriously think she has everyone watching these.

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries takes place in Melbourne in the later 1920's, one of my favorite time periods.  It features actress, Essie Davis as the Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher, who fights injustice and solves murders with the help of a great cast of characters, a gold-plated pistol, and a dagger hidden under her skirt.  Shouldn't all heroines have a little something tucked away in case of a dangerous situation?

Miss Fisher is a great character, and far ahead of her time. She is glamorous, and fashionable, and yes, saucy. Here are some of the reasons I love Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries....

1.  Miss Fisher has an incredible wardrobe.  While I love the dresses the women wear on Downton Abbey, Miss Fisher puts them all to shame.  She has such a great sense of style and the confidence to pull it all off.  Plus, I love all of her hats and hair accessories.    
 

2.  Miss Fisher often ignores what is socially acceptable. - In the first episode, you come to meet Miss Fisher's friend Doctor Mac.  There are certain behaviors that are socially acceptable in every time period, and one of the things that I appreciate about Miss Fisher is that she stands by her friends regardless of how society views them. 

Trailer: Guardians of the Galaxy

Last week, the full trailer for the new Marvel Comics movie Guardians of the Galaxy was released. I have never read this comic so I don't know anything about the story, but I am pretty much in for any comic book movie. From what I can see, the special effects look good and it has a raccoon in it. How can I resist?

What do you guys think? Guardians of the Galaxy will be in theaters in August. 

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Not Really a Movie Review: Vampire Academy

Hi, guys. As you can tell from the title of this post, this is not really a movie review. I wanted to write about the Vampire Academy movie, but I kind of suck at writing movie reviews and it would take forever. I wanted to share with you my feelings while it was still fresh in my mind, so with inspiration from this Buzzfeed list, I am going to list for you the reasons that I recommend seeing the VA movie. I'll preface this by saying that I am a big fan of Richelle Mead and the series, but I really tried to keep my expectations pretty low for the movie since Hollywood has a pretty good track record of producing some really bad YA/MG book to movie adaptations (Percy Jackson, anyone?).  Like many, the marketing for this movie worried me. Glad to say though that I was pleasantly surprised by the film and would definitely watch it again.

Alright, here are my my reasons why you should see the Vampire Academy movie.

1. It is true to the books. 
It's been quite a while since I've read the first Vampire Academy book but I didn't notice any huge omissions or changes. I was a little bit sad that Adrian didn't make an appearance though. Pretty sure he doesn't really show up until book 2 in the series as well, but I would have loved to have had an Adrian cameo.

2. Zoey Deutch as Rose
I was a little skeptical when Deutch was cast as Rose. I think in my head, there was no one who was going to be able to play and be good enough. But Detuch really throws herself into the role (literally at times) and I think she really captured the fierce, badass Rose that we all love and still manages to act like a teenager. I may have a girl crush on Zoey (just a small one).

3. The fight scenes
There were a few instances where the fighting was a bit over the top (my friend could not stop laughing at the head butting scene) but, for the most part, I really enjoyed the fighting choreography. I loved the brief glimpse we got of the training ground with the obstacle course and wish we could have seen more of it. (Note that I would love to see a training montage in the next film, if there is one. There's just something about training montages that are just so entertaining and make you feel like you should go out and run  a mile. Not that I do.) It's also clear that Deutch is doing a lot of the actual fighting herself and I give her props for doing it.

4. The friendship between Lissa and Rose.
I am so glad that the movie got this part right. The friendship is a huge part of the VA books and I am glad that they didn't throw it over for the popular romance angle. Yes, there are boys, but Rose and Lissa's friendship is the main focus here, not romance. They fight, like teenagers girls will do, but in the end their loyalty to each other always wins out.

5. It's funny.
Yes, the trailers made it look like this movie was going to be just a big one-liner. However, I think the film has a nice mix of humor and drama. I loved the pop culture references (like when Rose calls Mason "Ducky") and I definitely laughed out loud a few times.

6. World building that isn't painfully awkward.
I get it. It's hard to set up a world in a 2 hour film. What's done in hundreds of pages in a book has to be done quickly in a movie in order to snare the audience. Movies will often resort to bad voice over or a quickly constructed history lesson at the beginning of the film to get readers up to speed, which always feels slightly pandering to me. I think VA does a pretty good job of laying out the world without being too overt or cheesy. The flash backs were a little choppy at times but overall the film did a good job of explaining the world in a way that wasn't eye-roll inducing.

7. Good looking cast
Yes, I am shallow. I like looking at pretty people. VA boasts an attractive cast, though not unbelievably so. I personally hate it when every person looks like a supermodel in a movie (blasphemy, I know). They also had great chemistry together and were believable as friends on-screen.

8. Rose & Dimitri
YES. One of my favorite couples is finally on the big screen. I think Zoey Deutch and Danila Kozlovsky make a pretty adorable Rose and Dimitri.

9. It's fun.
Yes, I said the F word. Not every movie has to be an Oscar contender. I like that Vampire Academy doesn't take itself too seriously and isn't afraid to poke fun at itself. It's a movie about vampires in high school, for goodness sake. Let's have some fun with it.

There you have it - my reasons for seeing the VA movie. I know it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea but I think it's worth a try and you may be surprised. Personally I had a good time watching it and would love to see a sequel.

Agree, disagree? I'd loved to hear your opinions, so let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below. :)

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New Trailer: Vampire Academy

The film is just days away and The Weinstein Company has released another trailer for Vampire Academy. I am really excited to see the badass side of Rose and can't wait for Friday. Who else has their tickets ready?

Vampire Academy will be in theaters on Feb 7, 2014.

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It's Finally Here - Official Trailer for The Fault in Our Stars

You've all probably seen this by now but I figured you could watch it one more time. :) The trailer for The Fault in Our Stars looks pretty amazing and true to the book. Since I read the book really recently, it's very fresh in my mind. I think it's going to be good and I love the shots of Amsterdam. I didn't really cry while reading the book but I just might when I see the movie.

The Fault in Our Stars hits theaters June 6, 2014. Get your tissue box ready.

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TV Spot: Vampire Academy

A new TV spot was just released for the upcoming Vampire Academy movie. It has a darker tone than the previous trailers, which some thought were too cheesy (but I loved them). Dark or campy, I don't care. There's no way I am missing this movie. The release date has also been moved up a week and is now set to release on Feb 7, 2014.

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Trailer: Transcendence

Transcendence is a movie that has somehow managed to slip my radar until today, when I stumbled across this trailer. Looks like a futuristic sci-fi movie with an existential twist. I can't tell if it looks creepy or cool. I'm on the fence about this one. What do you guys think?

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New Theatrical Trailer: Veronica Mars

Hi, marshmallows! The new trailer for the Veronica Mars movie has just been released. We've seen most of this footage before but it's now in an official trailer. I will probably clap if I see this trailer in the theater. Movie releases March 14, which happens to be my birthday weekend. I may have to make this the official birthday movie for 2014.  Enjoy the trailer!

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Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 2013

Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas

Just a few more days until Christmas and I am spending the day cleaning and watching a marathon of Hallmark Holiday Movies.  There are some that I tape and watch over and over again and others that I delete after one viewing and maybe watch again if they show up on one of the marathon movie days.  I realize that each of these movies will touch different people in different ways, but here are my thoughts on the 2013 Hallmark Original Holiday movies....

The Thanksgiving House (Premiered November 2, 2013)

Blurb from Hallmark Website:
A woman buys a house in Plymouth, only to discover that the very first Thanksgiving took place on the property. As a result, she finds herself in a battle with a local handsome historian who wants to tear down her house to study the site. Stars Cerina Vincent and Lindsay Wagner. 

What I liked about it:  I almost missed this movie.  I was out of town for Thanksgiving and had to go online to set up my DVR. When I finally got to see this one, I was glad I didn't miss it.  I really liked the main characters, Mary Ross and Everett Mather.  I just kept rooting for Mary and Everett to get together. Everett embodies small town hope and good will, while Mary has been hurt in the past due to her parents' divorce.  Also, viewers will love to hate Mary's arrogant city boyfriend and the local community gossip blogger.

Watch it again: Yes! I was glad I recorded this to my DVR.  Since it was a Thanksgiving-theme movie, it did not receive the same replay as other movies.

Pete’s Christmas (Premiered November 8, 2013)

Blurb from Hallmark Website:
A young 14-year-old boy named Pete has the worst Christmas Day ever, only to find that he must repeat the day again and again until he gets it right. Stars Bruce Dern, Zachary Gordon, Bailee Madison, Molly Parker and Rick Roberts. 

What I liked about it:  Repeating the day over again until you get it right is a frequent plot device.  It can be done well or it can be really annoying.  Pete's Christmas is an enjoyable and humorous version.  Pete's a great kid and, as he tries to figure out how to make it all come together, there are a lot of mistakes but also a lot of laughs.  Pete and his family grow throughout the movie, and of course, there is the mandatory happy ending.

Watch it again: Yes, if you can find it.  This one didn't seem to run as frequently as others and unfortunately I didn't tape it.

Snow Bride (Premiered November 9, 2013)

Blurb from Hallmark Website:
When a reporter encounters the eldest son of a famous political family at a mountain retreat, she winds up pretending to be his girlfriend over Christmas so he can save face with his family. Should she secretly expose newsworthy scoops about the famous family in order to save her job, or trust that she's falling in love for real? Stars Patricia Richardson and Katrina Law. 

What I liked about it:  I had to watch this one in parts.  I am not fond of certain deception plots and if I don't really connect with the characters, then I tend to lose interest.  The movie was super predictable, which I expected.  It was easy to see what would be the big conflict standing in the way of the two characters getting together.  However, about halfway through, I found myself really liking Greta (the undercover gossip reporter) and Ben (the rich son of a politician) and wanted to see them together.  I was surprised by how much I liked Ben's family, who were nothing like I expected. I did find myself wanting to see Ben's mother (who is now a widow) to find her own happy ever after ending, too.

Watch it again:  This is probably a one timer for me, but if it is on, I may tune in again.

A Very Merry Mix-Up (Premiered November 10, 2013)

Blurb from Hallmark Website:
Alice thinks she is heading to her fiancé’s hometown to meet his parents and spend the holidays, but a mix-up at the airport lands her at the wrong home. However this “wrong” family is just her sort of people and she quickly forms a bond with them, especially with the handsome son, Matt. When she visits the "right" house, will her destiny take a detour? Stars Alicia Witt. 

What I liked about it:  This movie had all of the makings for a potentially great romantic comedy in theory.  The main character accidentally finds herself in the wrong home for the holidays after a series of mix ups.  Of course, the family she meets is her ideal family.  There is also a tie in with time, fate, and a romantic story tied into a special clock. I usually like movies like A Very Merry Mix-Up, but for some reason this one did not grab me.

Watch it again:  Maybe. I liked it but I found myself skipping it to watch others.

New Footage: Veronica Mars Movie

Oooh there's some new footage from the Veronica Mars movie. This is the high school reunion scene and I think it looks pretty awesome. Cannot wait for this one next year!

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