Be a part of my blog tour this spring!

Trina Boice and Cedar Fort Publishing & Media are pleased to announce “Base Hits and Home Run Relationships: What Women Wish Guys Knew” blog tour, which will run from April 19-May 10, 2014.

If you’re interested in participating in this blog tour, please email us or leave a comment below.

About the book:

Love is like baseball, so hit a home run in your relationship! With Trina Boice’s advice, any man can learn how to step up to the plate. Learn tips, stats, and skills to make a powerful and lasting romance whether you’re in the “minor league” of dating or the “major league” of married life.

Hunger Games: Catching Fire now out on DVD!

If you’re a Hunger Games fan, then you’ve probably already seen this, but if you haven’t, it’s now in stores on DVD for rental or purchase!

Movie Title:  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Grade: A

In a Nutshell:  This movie franchise has all the odds ever in its favor.  The gritty books are best-sellers and the intense films don’t disappoint.  The special effects are great and you really find yourself enveloped in the dark world of these compelling characters.  The games feel familiar from the first movie, but they take on some new twists that engage your sensibilities and heart.  As Haymitch Abernathy states “Last year was child’s play; this year you’re dealing with all experienced killers.” The fans and the smart storyline mature with this second movie in the successful trilogy.

President Snow announces “On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors.”  And then it begins.

Uplifting theme: 

• I liked the speech Peeta gave in District 11: “Our lives aren’t measured in years, but in the lives we touch and touch us around us.”
• “We don’t need to destroy her – just her image.  Sew fear.  It doesn’t work as long as they have hope” counsels Plutarch Heavensbee.  Hope is a very powerful thing.  When you’ve lost everything, hope is everything.  Primrose tells her sister that she notices something different about her world now.  Katniss asks “What can you see?”  Her answer:  “Hope.”  Katniss becomes the mockingjay herself, the image of a new hope to her people.
• The grim violence is physical AND emotional, deepening the layers of imprisonment and drama. 
• There is a weighty theme of cultural and personal revolution that could begin an interesting dinner table conversation in your home.
• Simply surviving is not the end-game, but creating a meaningful life that blesses those around you is.  Primrose Everdeen says to her sister “You saved my life.  You gave me a chance.”  Katniss confirms “Yes, to live.” Primrose corrects “No, to do something.”

Things I liked:

• I loved the FANTASTIC wedding dress-turned mocking jay gown visual effects!
• The cast is terrific: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, and Woody Harrelson.  Philip Seymour Hoffman was a national treasure and will be missed.
• The “lethal lovers” Katniss and Peeta twist their lives together in a new way that may become a new prison of sorts, even if they’re able to pull it off.

Things I didn’t like:

• I thought the yucky blisters caused by the fog were pretty gross.  I definitely felt relief when they were able to wash away the pain in the water
• The film is almost 2 ½ hours long, but ends abruptly.  Dang it!  Thankfully, we won’t have to wait too long to watch the rest of the story.  The third movie installment in the trilogy is expected to release on the big screen November 21, 2014.   Like the Harry Potter franchise, the final part of the story is going to be split into two movies: Mockingjay 1 and 2.  The very last movie will hit theaters November 10, 2015.
• Love triangles are a bit tired.

Interesting lines:

• “That’s how the friend thing works…you have to tell each other deep stuff.”
• President Snow: While you and Peeta are on tour, you need to smile, you need to be grateful, but above all, you need to madly end it all in love. You think you can manage that?
• Katniss Everdeen: Yes.
• President Snow: "Yes" what?
• Katniss Everdeen: I'll convince them.
• President Snow: No. Convince me.
• “Don’t look so cute.  We’ll kill you anyways.”  - Johanna Mason
• “Say good-bye and forget them.  I do my best, thinking of them one by one, releasing them like birds from the protective cages inside me, locking the doors against their return.”  - Katniss Everdeen
• “No wonder I won the Games.  No decent person ever does.” – Katniss Everdeen

Things to look for:

• You only seem them for a few seconds, but I adore Effie’s super cute gloves at the party on the last night of their tour.
• Effie’s outfits in this movie are fantastic.  Look at the details on her butterfly outfit.
• Katniss hangs the model of Seneca Crane in an act of defiance during the judging. 
• Did you know a spile, the tool Katniss uses to get water out of a tree, really works?  It’s used to get sap out of sugar maple trees to produce maple syrup.
You can learn more about Tap My Tree Maple Spile and Hook
• Did you know that Effie’s last name is Trinket?  So appropriate, don’t you think?  I love that her character deepens in this installment in the story.

Tips for parents:

There is some violence (mostly bloodless) and a cold-faced attitude of murder that should begin an honest discussion of humanity in your family. There is some profanity, but the Capitol itself bleeps out two F-bombs.

If you missed the first one and need to catch up, here are some links to the books and movies:

Video Gamers Will Feel At Home Watching Robocop

Movie Title:   Robocop

Grade:   B-

In a Nutshell:   Wow, a cop movie and not a single donut in the entire movie.  (wink) 

I saw this on an IMAX screen which provided rumbling so loud that you could FEEL the airplanes buzzing above your head and the robots pounding on the ground.  Guys who love video games will think this movie is cool and fun.  It feels like a shooter game.  It even looks like a video game when you see all of the data that Robocop is seeing in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, like threats, criminal databases, etc.  I laughed out loud when Robocop sees a suspect and the data reveals “Totally stoned.”  Another read-out says “Violence imminent” when someone finds out who one of the bad guys is.

My youngest son wants to be a robotic engineer when he grows up (he’s 13), so he has introduced me to the amazing world of animatronics and robotics.  I thought the whole idea of an organic creature INSIDE a mechanical creation was fascinating.  The company says they spent $2.6 billion dollars to make him.  Wow, and we thought the Six Million Dollar Man was a big deal.  (I used to love that TV show.)

I never saw the original, so I can’t compare the source material with this remake.  I’d love to hear what YOU think!

Uplifting theme:   I loved the scene where a patient is trying to learn how to use his new robotic fingers to play the guitar.  In the movie, emotion gets in the way of controlling the robotic movement, so the patient admits to the doctor in a frustrating truth “I need emotion to play.”  The themes about what makes us human and the power of free will come out loud and clear.  An interesting dinner table conversation could be to discuss why humanity should be valued over computerized efficiency in today’s world of technology.

Things I liked:

•  Pat Novak mentioned his web site www.NovakElement.com  For kicks, I thought I’d check it out to see what’s there.  It takes you to Omnicorp’s web site where you can learn about all of the cool weapons they “make”.  I wish our TV shows had the cool green screen graphics that he used on his show.
• Abbie Cornish has the most perfect nose, don’t you think?  I didn’t like her hair styles in the movie, but I loved her cute black striped jacket and pretty scarf.
• I liked Robocop’s mechanical abs.
• There were several scenes that showed Alex Murphy without all of the Robocop parts on his body after the accident.  Without a spoiler alert, it was pretty amazing CGI.  His throat was perfect, showing him swallow with perfect timing to his mouth’s movements.
• I thought they did a great job creating some hatred for the Rick Mattox character who kept calling Robocop “Tin Man.”  It was a nice touch to play the Tin Man song from the original Wizard of Oz during the first test after Robocop’s surgery.
• Robocop can pick up a weapon and lift the prints off to scan his criminal database.  That sure would be handy.

Things I didn’t like:

•  Big corporations are always the bad guys.  All of their employees are evil, greedy, and selfish.
• Quick tip: Don’t sit too close to the screen.
• Almost all of the CGI was amazing, but I thought the car bomb flames looked super fake.
• I thought it was pretty doggone convenient that Alex Murphy’s face wasn’t hurt at all in the car bomb.
• It always bugs me when Hollywood shows protestors who are intolerant religious fanatics.
• Predictable plot. 

Funny lines & moments:  

• Robocop doesn’t have the quit wit and playfulness that Iron Man has, but there are still some humorous moments.
• I thought the imagery was hilarious when the TV reporter at the beginning of the movie was in Tehran, talking about how safe the children were on the streets with everyone living in perfect harmony while the gigantic robot tanks rolled past on the road and innocent civilians were targeted by Droids for threat evaluation. 
• “Why are Americans so robophobic?”  - Pat Novak
• As the company was looking at potential candidates for their Robocop technology, they saw a picture of a military Sergeant who was touted as “masculinity incarnate” because he was such a studmuffin.
• When Norton operates on Robocop’s brain, Alex Murphy says “It tastes like peanut butter.”
• I thought it was hilarious that the company did focus group studies for market research on two groups: prisoners and kids.
• “I say we go on 3.  3.”  - Rick Mattox
• “Hey Dr, what happens if I taze an exoskeleton with a little A-hole inside?” – Robocop
• “If I had a pulse, mine would be racing.”  - Robocop when he sees his wife for the first time after his surgery
• “At least I know you’re the right color now.” – Alex Murphy’s black partner
• “Has the U.S. Senate become pro-crime?”  - Pat Novak  (Based on the decades of unscrupulous behavior of Senators, I thought that was an ironic question.)

Interesting lines:

• “Americans don’t want a machine.  They want a product with a conscience.”  - Raymond Sellars
• “They fear what they don’t understand.” – Pat Novak
• “Your body may be gone, but you’re still here.”  - Norton   (That’s what I tell myself every morning when I look in the mirror.)
• “People don’t know what they want most of the time until you show it to them.” – Raymond Sellars
• “It’s the illusion of free will.” – Raymond Sellars  (That’s how I feel when chocolate is near me.)
• I thought it was interesting that Liz Kline’s character who counsels the company’s robot program was quite robotic herself.  Intentional?
• “What’s bigger than a hero?  A dead hero.”   - Converation with Raymond Sellars

Things to look for:

• What is that center picture hanging in Raymond Sellars’ office?  It looks like a red, chocolate flower.  There I go again…me and chocolate…
• I wonder how much Bing paid to have their search engine featured on the computer when Robocop was gathering data.
• Nice rod-iron spindles on Alex Murphy’s stairs in his home.  I wish I had them.
• Who would win a battle:  Will Smith’s I, Robot or Robocop?  Just wondering.

Tips for parents:   Prepare for lots and lots of shooting (mostly bloodless), shattered glass, explosions, and cool weapons.  Samuel L. Jackson swears a couple of times at the end during his TV show, but he gets bleeped out.

 

If you're interested in watching more Robocop, there are several versions to choose from.

Enjoy this FREE book of love just in time for Valentine's Day!

Just in time for Valentine's Day...my Gift of Love eBook version is FREE today through Friday!  http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Love-Trina-Boice-ebook/dp/B00IDAY3IO/

Happy Valentine's Day!

Monuments Men movie gets me Googling for more

Movie Title:  The Monuments Men

Grade:  B+

PG-13, 1 hour 52 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This inspiring movie is based on a true story about us all of us.  I admit that I’m curious to learn more about what really happened as the small group of art experts tried to save priceless pieces of history as the Nazi regime began to fall in WWII Europe.  I was in Italy just a few months ago, basking in all of the beautiful artwork and can’t imagine what a terrible loss it would have been to humanity if we didn’t have some of the masterpieces that exist in that country alone. 

Based on the non-fiction telling by Robert M. Edsel,Monuments Men , the subject matter and setting are truly fascinating.  Unfortunately, the movie falls a bit short of what could have been an outstanding cinematic journey worthy of Oscar buzz...for next year.  (It was supposed to be released at Christmas in time for this year's Oscars, but George Clooney chose to wait.)  It misses the German mark...you could say.  The audience I watched the movie with consisted of mostly older people, some who looked like they could have actually fought in WWII. 

This brief tour through war-torn Europe was directed, written, and performed by George Clooney.  It’s a bit of “Geriatric Band of Brothers” heist meets “Saving Private Ryan”, although not nearly as realistic or good as the latter.  The audience loved the camaraderie among the men and were left wanting a little more out of the star-studded cast which includes Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and the exquisite Cate Blanchett.

Uplifting theme:  What a sobering reminder this film features that Hitler stole lives, art, and even history from all of us.  James Granger says “He really wanted it all.”  Frank Stokes corrects him “He wanted everything.”  Frank Stokes continually reminds his crew that their lives are worth more than a piece of art, and yet they are all willing to sacrifice everything in order to preserve it because it represents mankind’s greatest accomplishments.  

I love that the men refer to various works of art as “she” and “her”, granting true life to images that capture our very soul.  Frank Stokes narrates the journey and explains that they were fighting for culture, our history, and our very way of life.  The works of art are not simply beautiful things to look at and admire, but our history…yours….mine.   It was inspiring to learn that over 5 million pieces were recovered through The Monuments Men project.

Things I liked:

• It was refreshing to see a loyal husband resist an invitation of infidelity, especially on a lonely night in romantic Paris.  Matt Damon’s character, James Granger, even returned the tie he was given by the hopeful woman.
• The sets and scenery were breathtaking.
• One of the most profound scenes was when (SPOILER ALERT) the group finds a big barrel of gold nuggets and then realizes they were from the mouths of Jews who were killed by the Nazis. The scene carried a sobering weight that other scenes lacked.  The audience gasped a few times, which I think, would have made George Clooney proud.

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s a bit slow-moving and disjointed with not nearly enough humor and some missed opportunities to make the film truly wonderful. 
• Substitute the last line of the movie with something better like “Come on, I want to show you something else!”

Funny lines:

• “Do we get to kill anybody?” – Preston Savitz
• “Speak English” said several people to James Granger whose French was terrible.  I’ve been to France and they really do hate it when we Americans attempt to speak their beautiful language.
• James Granger explains “I seem to have stepped on a land mine.” Frank queries “Why would you do that?” repeated by Walter Garfield.  James says “It was a slow day.”  I thought that scene was well done as they tried to come up with a solution and were prepared for any outcome.
• An American soldier says after the war was announced to be over “Isn’t there supposed to be a parade or something?” to which James Granger gently corrects “Probably not in Germany.”
• While talking about setting up some dynamite, two on the team have the following exchange: “Maybe I should do this.”  “What do you know about explosives?”  “Nothing.”  “Ok.”

Inspiring lines:

• “Who will be their protectors?  Who will make sure the Mona Lisa is still smiling?” – Frank Stokes
• “It’s not bad.”  “It’s not good” – an exchange as two of the crew look at a canvas of Hitler’s artwork from his failed run as an art student
• “Frank explains his passion about the Monument Men project by saying “If you destroy their achievements, it’s like they never existed.”
• “Great works of art can never belong to one individual.”  - Donald Jeffries

Things to learn more about:  George Clooney said of this film “It’s so rare to do any story that people don’t know.” I would love to learn more!

• Ghent Altarpiece and the Art of Jan Van Eyck
• Russia’s Soviet Trophy Brigade
• The Nero Decree stated that if Hitler died, the Nazis were to destroy Germany’s infrastructure, as well as other valuables, including art.  Nero was blamed for the fire that destroyed much of Rome.  Forty-two days after issuing the Nero Decree, Hitler killed himself, and a week later, Germany surrendered.
• Michelangelo: the Bruges Madonna and the Piccolomini altar,

Tips for parents:  There is some profanity, but not as much as you would think there would be in a war movie.  People are killed and wounded with some blood and gore.

The Lego Movie has quick wit, gags and fun for all ages

Movie Title:  The Lego Movie

Grade:  A-

In a Nutshell:  Quick-witted fun for all ages, as well as obvious Lego lovers.  While raising 4 boys, I’ve sucked up my share of miscellaneous Lego pieces on the carpet with my vacuum cleaner over the years, as well as stepped on the sharp plastic corners in the middle of the night one too many times, but I still love Legos.  Actually, the plural of Lego is Lego, so I should change that last sentence, but I won’t because I’m as sassy as the movie.

I lived only a few blocks away from LegoLand in Carlsbad, California for 6 years and even had an annual membership.  That theme park is simply adorable and a truly fun amusement park for the whole family.  One of the things I love about LegoLand is its keen sense of humor and that it doesn’t take itself so seriously.  This movie is exactly that. 

The jokes fly fast and furiously and the story line is surprisingly thought-out with a couple of sweet twists in the end.  It feels like free-flowing play itself with the satisfaction you get after building something well.

The fun flick is filled with tremendous voice talent, including Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, and Chris Pratt.  Shaquille O’Neal plays himself, and Billy Dee Williams revisits his role as Lando in Star Wars.

Uplifting theme:  Like most movies with Morgan Freeman in them, his character says the bulk of the inspiring lines in the film.

• “The only thing you need to be special is to believe that you are.”  - Vitruvius
• “We all have something that makes us something.” – Emmet’s co-worker
• Emmet worries “What do I do?  I don’t have my instructions!” illustrates the importance of imagination and creativity.
• “Believe.  Then you will see everything.”  - Vitruvius
• “You have to embrace what is special about you.”  - Vitruvius

Things I liked:

• I can’t get that “Everything is awesome!” song out of my head
• I love quick wit.  This movie’s jam is quick wit.
• The water in the shower, hot tub bubbles, and ocean white caps were fantastic
• I loved how Emmet did Jumping Jacks
• Frequent use of plastic Lego flames.  It’s amazing how often they were able to use them.
• I thought it was cute how they tied in the use of instructions into the theme of the movie.  Emmet begins showing each step he takes in the morning, as if he’s writing instructions for you to follow.  Later, the good guys create a step-by-step plan to defeat the bad guys, identifying the correct order for you to follow.
• Twist ending

Things I didn’t like:

• No need to pay extra money for 3D.  There is almost too much stimulation and the whole film is a bit manic, similar to Christmas morning when wonderful presents and wrapping paper are strewn everywhere.
• My little kids were too smart to recognize that when everyone gets a trophy for just paying to be on a Little League baseball team, then the trophy isn’t worth anything.  They hated being told “Everyone is special” because that meant to them that nobody was special.  This movie has a bit of that philosophy in it, although it tries to point out that everyone is special for different reasons.
• Cloud Cocoaland?  I thought they could have come up with something more clever than that.

Funny lines: The adults were laughing more than the kids.  Parents won’t have to suffer through this children’s animated movie.  A lot of the humor will go over kids’ heads, and the wit happens so fast that you’re sure to miss some of it too.

• “Come with me if you want to not die.” – Wyldstyle/Lucy
• “Place the thing on the other thing and save the universe.”  - Vitruvius
• “We’ll wing it.  It’s a bat pun.”  -  Batman
• “You don’t know me, but I’m on TV, so you can trust me.” – Wyldstyle/Lucy
• “Let’s take extra care to follow the instructions or you’ll be put to sleep.  And don’t forget Taco Tuesday’s coming next week.”  - President Business
• “I only work in black.  And sometimes very, very dark grey.”  - Batman
• “Okay, I think it got it.  But just in case, say it all over again.  I wasn’t listening.”  - Emmet
• “Do you see the quotations I’m making with my claw hands?”  - Bad cop/good cop
• “Here are your pants.  End of series.”  - Wyldstyle/Lucy as she walks onto the set of the popular TV show “Where are my pants?”
• “Ow!  That is going to start hurting pretty soon.” – Emmet
• “I WILL text you.”  - Batman
• “This has been the greatest almost 15 minutes of my life.”  - Emmet
• “I’m dark and brooding.  Look!  A rainbow!”  - Emmet

Things to look for:  You need to pay attention, because clever gags appear and disappear quickly, along with the rapid-fire wit.  I’ll bet this film will do well with DVD sales, because everyone will want to have the power to hit the pause button on this one. There are too many details to mention.  The Legoland amusement park has a “Minland” in the center of the park that is unbelievably detailed with hidden gems everywhere.  This movie is like that.

• I’ve never seen a surfer Lego dude with flowing, blonde hair!
• Bubbles in the hot tub in The Old West
• Cool Lego dust behind moving cars in the dirt
• Lego smoke blocks from a moving train

Tips for parents:  Relax and rest easy on this one.  All of the profanity includes such lines as “Darn, darn, darny, darn” (Bad cop/good cop) and “Dangit!” (Batman & Wonder Woman).  Pretty nice, right?  Someone calls someone else a “butt”, but there is a surprisingy lack of toilet humor for a kids movie.  Nice, right?  There is a budding romance, but no Lego kissing. Merchandising for this movie is going to be huge.

Last Vegas plays as Grampas Gone Wild

Last Vegas just came out on DVD this week, so I thought it might be helpful to review the flick and let you know what you're in for with a purchase or rental.

Movie Title: Last Vegas

Grade: C

In a Nutshell: This is one big Las Vegas party with an Oscar-winning ensemble cast that you can’t help but think is charming and adorable. The movie has its guffaw moments and comes off as The Hangover Part 63. As expected, there are a lot of age jokes as we watch some of our favorite leading men get old. Think Grampas Gone Wild.

Uplifting theme: My husband’s best friend recently died, so the life-long friendship between these four men really struck a chord with me. Friendships that endure the test of time and trials of life are truly priceless. The themes of love, forgiveness, and even good ole fun that creates memories comes through loud and clear.

Things I liked:
• I was impressed with how much the child actors looked like their counterpart adult actors. Nice casting!
• I loved the image when the men are coming down the escalator so that you only see their legs. The sexy torsos from the strippers in Las Vegas’ male dancer show “Thunder from Down Under” appear to be the actors’ upper body. It was a fun visual that only lasted a moment.
• The Morgan Freeman dance
• I thought it was hilarious when Kevin Kline had to put on his glasses to see the nude lady
• I’ve always enjoyed Mary Steenburgen and some critics say that she stole the entire movie.
• My kids laugh that Morgan Freeman is in every movie they’ve ever seen. No harm there. He’s a national treasure.

Things I didn’t like:
• I don’t like hearing kids swear. You experience that within the first minute of the movie. I understand that it sets the tone for the adult character’s personality, but I still don’t like it.
• Within the first 5 minutes, the kids steal wine and grind it in a pool. Parents, this is not a kid’s movie.
• Was Michael Douglas trying to look young and tan or was his character? Either way, I couldn’t decide if the fake color was funny or pathetic. Come to think of it, I couldn’t decide whether or not the entire movie was funny or pathetic.
• It’s too bad that so much acting talent couldn’t come together to create something better. Then again, as you get older, sometimes you just want to have whatever fun you’re capable of and don’t care anymore what other people think (another theme that is celebrated in the movie.)
• Sam’s story line reminded me a bit of The Big Chill . I have a really hard time thinking I would ever encourage my husband to sleep with other women. Uh, nope.

Funny lines:
• Dinner party at 4:15
• “This will be the first bachelor party that could be covered by Medicare.”
• “These Red Bull Vodkas are strange. I feel like I’m getting drunk and electrocuted at the same time.” - Archie Inspiring lines:
• “I was 17 five minutes ago. It’s winding up a little too fast.”     So true.
• “There ain’t nothing more important than loyalty and love between thugs.” = 50 cent

Things to look for:
• The disgustingly funny guy in the bikini contest
• Famous Last Vegas landmarks on Fremont Street and the Strip

Tips for parents: Much of the material is so inappropriate that the film should be rated R. You kind of feel like you just had a dirty romp in Las Vegas. I repeat…parents, this is not a kid’s movie. It is filled with profanity, scantily clad women and lots of sexual jokes, infidelity, transvestites, and inappropriate scenes.