Life has been pretty hectic lately with a lot of changes going on, but there's always time for new Funko Pop Figures! Seriously, these "toys" are the best things since, well, Pop Figures! I know more adults collecting these than kids. Well technically, adults are big kids, but anyway! I've loved these things since I first got introduced to them a couple years ago. I love how they basically have figures for most of my favorite shows/movies (except The Lost Boys)!!! The latest ones I've had the chance to check out and take in their awesomeness are the Walking Dead Series 2 figures and Iron Man 3 (see below). If you're a fan of the Walking Dead or Iron Man 3, do yourself a favor and check these out. Just take a look at the images and see how cool these are!

FRANKENWEENIE - Blu-ray review

Well, Tim Burton is back, this time for FRANKENWEENIE. In my opinion, animated feature films are his expertise. Now I did love his version of Batman, and some of his other films back in the day. But most of his others have been hit or misses. But when it comes to his animated films, I have been a fan of every one. This leads me to Frankenweenie. This latest film has him delivering a story in a darker tone (literally black and white) to give you that classic scary movie vibe to it, yet retaining that lovable quality his other animated films have. Not without its flaws, this film overall is a hit in my book and continued his run of good animated films. I think it's a step up from Corpse Bride actually. Now that the film is out on Blu-ray, it is done in the high quality format that Disney mostly delivers with its releases. Seriously, check it out for yourself and you'll see what I mean. There are some movies you watch on Blu-ray that you can't really notice a difference. But not this one. You'll be satisfied. And did I say it was also a good film too?



 

So I am pretty late getting in on the Walking Dead bandwagon. Ok, I am REALLY late. But I felt it's better late than never to write about this awesome show. I watched Season One on DVD and could not stop watching. Much sleep was lost as I stayed up watching episode after episode. After the final episode of the season, I was left hanging as I anticipated the possibilities for season two. I have seen complaints here and there about the direction the show was taking. But for the most part I have been purposefully avoiding them. I am definitely looking forward to watching the next season and forming my own opinions as to how the show is. But for now, I am thoroughly satisfied with what I watched in season one.

The Hangover Part II - DVD

I'm glad I didn't pay to see this in the theater. I definitely do not consider myself a film snob. I am very generous when it comes to giving films a chance that others may hate. Having said that, I think Hangover II sucks. Yep, rarely do I give a scathing review as I try to pull the good out of most films I watch. But man, I was disappointed with this one. Considering that I thought the first Hangover was one of the best comedies I've seen in a while, part II would be its evil twin brother. Most of the jokes seemed forced, and the pace was too damn slow. It did have funny scenes and even topped the first one as far as shock value. But just because you have shock value doesn't always mean it'll be funny. When they push the shock value without any REAL comedy behind it, it winds up being FLAT. What made the first one so great is that it had lots of shock value AND equal amounts of great comedy to go with it. Thumbs down for Hangover II. They should've just stopped where they ended in Vegas.

Batman: NOEL

Ho Ho Ho, here to get you into the Christmas spirit is... Batman??

Yep, in one of the biggest surprises in the world of graphic novels this season, Batman: Noel swings into our world and drops a new take on that old familiar Christmas Story by Dickens. Written by Lee Bermejo, Batman: NOEL puts a twist on the Dickens' tale and brings it into the heart of Gotham city. If I can say three words about this is, "Get this book". For anyone that loves the Batman franchise as much as I do, you'll be sure to enjoy this. I never really read a Batman story that struck an emotional chord in me, but this one did. The phenomenal story and artwork in this book makes it one of the years best for me. So go and check it out!

David Crowder*Band - Oh For Joy

It was sad news earlier this year when the David Crowder*Band would be breaking up after this year. So naturally, all of us that are familiar with the band expect a farewell album that we can remember for years. Well, DCB has stated that they are working on a final album. But the most recent "Oh For Joy" is not it. This is a little gift dropped by the band for fans to enjoy this holiday season, as well as other seasons to come. So while we wait for them to finish their last album, we get to hear their unique versions of Christmas favorites such as Joy To The World, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Silent Night on this album that includes a total of 8 tracks. Do yourself a favor and add some holiday cheer to your festivies this year courtesy of DCB!

TobyMac - Christmas in DiverseCity

I am proud to post this review by Amica Paige of TobyMac's "Christmas in DiverseCity"... Check it out!

I wouldn't call myself a Christian; I'd rather wait for Truth in the end to reveal what's beyond this fragile life, which is nevertheless sprinkled with beauty, peace, and joyful things, if we only cared enough to see that the glass is indeed half-full and not always view it from the top as half-empty and lacking. I consider myself a hopeful skeptic, an occasional atheist, a nature worshipper, and a lover of art, music, and words. In other words, I'm a doubting Thomas and a crumb-licking dog searching for home. I'm both spiritual and worldly, if there is such a separation. I regard myself earthy, since I, like you, am grounded by gravity no matter how different our spiritual takes are, and recognize that our only exit is exactly the only exit from this life—to dust.

Why the long intro just to review a musical piece? Well, my theatrics lead to this: my general fondness for music. I keep my ears open—yes, even to those labeled as "Christian" music, which are sometimes disregarded, mocked, just plain hated, or unnecessarily worshipped even more so than the God in their message. I believe that music, in all its forms, opens the mind, touches the spirit, and pierces the soul, if it bears any substance at all. Having said all that, here is my experience with TobyMac's Christmas in DiverseCity, a collaborative album.

Words that came to mind upon the first listen:
Breezy, Jingly, Snappy, Dancy.
Melodic. A soulful variety.
Tender...yet hard enough to rock to or, as I prefer, dance to.

And after the 2nd and umpteenth plays, here's what I think:
Christmas This Year rings in beautifully with a smooth blend of Toby's arresting ease and Leigh Nash's angelic vocals—there she goes again!—complemented by the entrancing background piano.

The First Noel is a strong follow with a rhythmically captivating arrangement, while Mary's Boy Child is definitely one of my favorite songs in the album, as even a bitter soul may render this soothing tune as ear candy—a delicious mix of intoxicating calm and head sway.

I seriously would dance or jog to O Come, All Ye Faithful—alright, I actually did dance to it and would have also done the latter if I didn't have a problem with sweaty earbuds slipping from my ears. However, singing along to this euphonic tune can make one feel like a real phony, especially if you like to question the Being being sung about. I couldn't help it though. When a song is brilliantly executed with just the right amount of funk, a listener can get carried away.

Little Drummer Boy is rich in beats, yet manages to hold its footing quite well, not losing grip of its context in all the fun, whereas This Christmas (Father of the Fatherless) is a tuneful chant of its title in parenthesis.

Carol of The Kings is a finely crafted symphonic song, making it a real treat on that point alone. As an aside and not to discount the artist's own merit, the rapper sounds like Kanye West, whose rapping style, per se, I like.

Birth of Love exudes energy. I'd play this as a backdrop for a Holiday fashion show if I move in that arena.

What Child is This? penetrates the way a song should...even if you didn't bother with Christ. Its musical strength can mesmerize.

It Snowed is rock, pure and simple. If guitar riffs could jolt you into head bobbing, you'd dig this. But I dance to the beat of brit pop and funky or entrancing songs and relish the slightly tamer side of some alternative and indie tunes.

Angels We Have Heard On High presents yet another angelic voice, wrapped in heavenly harmony and goosebumps-inducing chorus, warmly tied with an instrumental ribbon. There is a bit of narrated biblical message later in the song, as a sidenote to those who just can't be bothered with it or those whose ears are simply numb to it.

Santa's Coming Back Around is a jazzy R&B, a style that doesn't quite stir my spirit, like rock music, and the outburst in the intro can be quite grating. Still, it's just my queer taste and certainly not a pompous and foolish attempt to disregard the artist(s). Ditto for Christmas Time which is another flavorful R&B, at least for those who jive to those beats.

To end, if music is chocolate, this is definitely a box worth grabbing this season. The only difference is, it would never run out on you. If likened to coffee, DiverseCity is a nicely brewed Holiday album, infused with such melodic ease, funk, and musical depth, elements that arguably prevent an album from turning into just another overprocessed junk in a music industry often stricken with a toxic tick that saps the sublime out of its pop music, leaving them as substanceless as soda pop, regardless of its spiritual angle, or lack of. I give this Christmas album a 9 3/4s out of ten stars, only because I'm still stuck at King's Cross and could never quite get to perfection such as that of closure...wishing that the Great Hall had never closed its doors... Perhaps, I should give DiverseCity a few more hundred listen to give it a perfect ten.