Anticipation Empathy Post: Sherlock Season 4

So, let's talk about Sherlock. I know we just got season three but I'm ready for season 4!
Unfortunately Benedict and Martin are super busy and Moffat is working on Doctor Who so it doesn't look like we'll be getting another season anytime soon. *sigh* Brace yourselves for what looks like another 2 year wait for 3 episodes.
In any other fandom the hiatus might be spent worrying about other fandoms and just sitting quietly but this is the Sherlock fandom and we've been crazy since the 1800's. I shall spend my time waiting worrying about other fandoms and enjoying the crazy gifs and theories my fellow holmies come up with.
The last hiatus was painful but a lot of fun and I welcome this one with open arms. (even though it'd still be nice to have season 4 and 5 now)
So in the words of a certain doctor 'allonsy'. It's been an honor going crazy with you.

Psych the Musical

I honestly loved this two hour long episode. it exceeded my expectations with it's catchy music and humorous hijinks. There was also a lot of plot, which was unexpected but not unwelcomed.
 The episode starts out with a quick storybook introduction and a fun musical number called 'Santa Barbara Skies'. Shawn and Gus soon get sucked into a compelling new case where the alleged Z escapes a mental institution and has it out for the new stage production 'Ripper'. With the help of Carlton Lassiter, Juliet O'hara, and Yang, Shawn and Gus have their hands full with this case.
Viewers should note that this episode takes place preseason seven.

Movie Review: Thor 2

So I'm sure everyone and their dog has seen this movie but I'm going to review it anyway.
It was quite simply amazing. The first Thor movie honestly wasn't my favorite but the sequel was awesome.
There were so many good things about this movie. For one it was surprisingly hilarious. I didn't expect it to be so humorous but alas it was. Also Christopher Eccleston playing the bad guy was very awesome for a Doctor Who fan like myself, and not to mention Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston returning to play Thor and Loki.
I really don't have a lot to say except it was great.

The movie is rated pg-13
click the link to check out kids in mind for further info on rating.
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/t/thorthedarkworld.htm

Movie Review: You've Got Mail

This charming 90's romantic comedy is funny and cute. It's cozy, mostly clean except for a few suggestive comments, and it stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It's about two rival bookstore owners: she owns a cozy, family heirloom children's book shop, and he's the owner of a major bookstore chain. The two despise each other in real life, but do not realize that their online chatting partners they're slowly falling in love with...are each other.
You will not regret watching this fun movie.

Parents, this movie is rated PG-13. Here's the link to Kids in Mind:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/y/youve_got_mail_1998__203.htm

Book Review: The Sisters Grimm

The Sisters Grimm is a 9 book series written by Micheal Buckley where the leading protagonists Sabrina and Daphne Grimm move to Ferry Port Landing with their Grandma that was said to be dead, after their parents disappeared mysteriously from their home in New York. They soon find out that Ferry Port Landing isn't as ordinary as it seems with the fairy-tale characters trapped in the town by Sabrina and Daphne's ancestors,  the Grimm Brothers. (Kinda like Once Upon a Time, but not really) Sabrina and Daphne soon join the family business and become fairy tale detectives. With the help of Granny Relda, Mr. Canis, Puck, and Elvis their  Great Dane, they solve mysteries and work to bring down the elusive Scarlet Hand.
 I looooooooooooooooooooooooove this series. Every book is just as amazing as the next. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good series.

Star Trek Into Darkness Movie Review

Okay so this is a very late review but better late than never I suppose. Anyway if you liked the first movie you'll love the sequel. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto return to the big screen for a high-action adventure with a spectacular villain played by the fantastic Benedict Cumberbatch going by the name of John Harrison. I admit I didn't actually expect much out of it  (I like Star Wars better than Star Trek don't hate me:) but I was very impressed with how well done the movie was. It kept me on the edge of my seat (and not only because of Benedict) I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first movie. It was just amazing so if you haven't already get your behind to a red box or to a friends house to see it!

Parents: Um it's rated PG-13 for reasons so I'd check it out here:
 http://www.kids-in-mind.com/s/startrekintodarkness.htm

Word of the Day: Euphoric

Happy FRIDAY!!! We made it through the week, so let's get a round of applause!!!
*stadium screaming applause*
Why, thank you. I suppose I had a pretty good week as well. September, September. I love it!
So, I suppose we are all pretty euphoric today. Wait, you ask, Hailee, what does euphoric mean? Well, euphoric means overjoyed. Ecstatic. Jubilant. I'm moving on, so if you don't get it by now, too bad. We're all in a case of Friday euphoria, so enjoy it. Go home, eat nachos and watch Duck Dynasty. Live it up.

Si gets euphoric around firecrackers.

(we disclaim duck dynasty to a and e and all associates.)

Word of the Day: Sagacious

Welcome to the word of the day of the ONLY September 7, 2013 you will ever have!
Today's fantabulous word is sagacious.

This word means the exact opposite of ignorant, stupid, idiotic, dim-witted, etc.

Sagacious is a fancy word for smart or perspicacious (which, now that I think about it, is a veeeery fancy word itself.) If you call someone sagacious, you are notifying their intelligence and, as some people would say, Smarticle Particles.
So, sound sagacious and say it! You don't even have to tell people you found it online.

Bye, bye, my swanky readers!
(\o.o/)
(I'm not sure if I just typed a gremlin thing or a bunny rabbit. Comment below to voice your sagacious opinion.)

DISCLAIMER: I use www.dictionary.reference.com to look up this word. And I don't own this beautiful Psych picture, I believe USA does. But, don't steal this post. Not cooool.

Word of the Day: Flamboyant

This fun word to say means strikingly bold or brilliant or showy (courtesy of www.dictionary.reference.com, my source for sounding intelligent when I talk.) So, when your mom buys a painting of a flower or tree or something, tell her it's flamboyant and she'll love you forever.
Or, if you're writing your Christmas list and you want to make it extra clear that you don't want just any old crap, you can say, "I would like some positively flamboyant whateverjunk for Christmas."

Fangirl relation: "Captain America's star-spangled suit is adorably flamboyant."
                           "Sherlock's cheekbones are nicely flamboyant."
                           "Shawn, your pinapple hat is flamboyant."

Movie Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters

So, if you're a major PJ fangirl, like myself, you found yourself furiously panting after watching the first movie. The plot was distorted and it was wrong in so many ways. But, if you're letting that keep you from going to see Sea of Monsters, push aside the memory of the destroyed first film and buy your flippin' ticket! For a movie, it was an excellent representation of Rick Riordan's bestselling sequel. The guys were hot (Percy and Luke....ah), Annabeth's hair was BLOND (a detail they could've fixed in the first movie), they had all the characters (Clarisse and Thalia and Mr. D) and it was hilarious and awesome!

Camp Half-Blood is going great when suddenly the magical borders that protect its contents start to flicker, caused by the poisoning of Thalia's pine tree. The only thing that can heal the tree-and the camp- is the Golden Fleece, a special artifact that can heal anything. However, it is in the Bermuda Triangle (most commonly referred by demigods as the Sea of Monsters) and guarded by the deadly cyclops Polyphemus. Not only that, but right when Percy is feeling like a lousy one-quest wonder, Poseidon sends him what seems like a manifestation of humiliation: a cyclops brother named Tyson.

Watch it. Fangirls, try not to judge it for content and details. I mean, as much as we want a three-hour copy of the book, Hollywood has not yet unlocked the fullness of the literature it portrays. So enjoy!

Parents, this film features thematic action: monsters, fighting, etc. If you're unsure whether it suits your family, consult these awesome websites that outline every bit of adult content for you:

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/p/percyjacksonseaofmonsters.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/percy-jackson-sea-of-monsters

Movie Review: Now You See Me

I LOVED THIS MOVIE! It's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. It's more than good. I'd watch it ten times in a row. Well, maybe like days in a row. It's about a group of four magicians that believe in the Robin Hood principle: robbing the rich to feed the poor, taking back the money scoundrels swindled from the people of America. But they do it through magic.
This movie is so good because of its intriguing plot.
Cynical FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) gets the assignment to nail these guys, and gets paired up with an INTERPOL agent (Melanie Laurent) and begins working with Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a man that makes his living on pointing out how magicians do their tricks and tearing down their careers. Although no one, not even the Four Horseman themselves, know who the fifth magician helping them is.
This movie is reveal after reveal, action on top of action. Debating about watching it or not? Think it looks stupid? Well, it isn't. Mwa ha ha ha ha!

Parents, this movie isn't exactly kid-friendly for a few reasons. Check out what these cool sites have to say:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/n/nowyouseeme.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/now-you-see-me
Thanks!

HELLO EVERYONE!
Okay so I'm McKenna Andersen
I love reading, writing, sports, and TV. (more than I should:)
I,like my friends, is also a big Psych fan a long with Sherlock BBC, Doctor Who, and Once Upon A Time. The Percy Jackson series is one my favorites with Harry Potter, the Sisters Grimm, The Hobbit, and Artemis Fowl.
I have a strange fear of statues, bugs and fish.
Well that's about all you'll need to know about me.
Bye :D

Anticipation Empathy Post no.1: House of Hades by Rick Riordan

"Oh, poor thing!"
"Poor unfortunate soul!"
"That's too bad."
These are only some of society's sympathetic expressions. None of which have any effect on a mourning, impatient bookworm.
The Mark of Athena ended with a tragic and horribly horrid cliffhanger (leave NOW if you don't know what this means) and we fans, PJ psychopaths (or, Sherlockians will relate, highly functioning sociopaths) are mourning, and we have no idea about what yet.
This is a Great Depression in this flourishing fandom. Fangirls everywhere are drawing fan pictures, writing fan fiction about the next book, and crying into their pillows. I am writing this post to let you know that, like you, I am one of those fan-fiction writers and potential post-tartarus fall criers.

"Don't worry. I'm going to crawl to the ends of the earth, suffer loss and hatred, narrowly escape sudden death and utter starvation and come back with a copy of the House of Hades."

"Pre-order The House of Hades today on Amazon Kindle."

Are the only words we want to hear.

Book Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland is a lovely-and pretty dang hilarious- Jane Austen fan-fiction novel. I would recommend it for thirteen and older (for a few kissing scenes and some references). I loved this book! Also, read the sequel, Midnight in Austenland.

Jane Hayes is entirely given up on men...except for Mr. Darcy, played by Colin Firth (see Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice), whom she secretly wishes could be a reality. She's sure her obsession is unhealthy, but then her late Aunt Carolyn (who had recently found her stash of Pride and Prejudice DVD's) leaves a special vacation in her will. A trip to Pembrook Park, a destination that totally immerses its visitors in an Austen-esque story for two weeks. She thinks it's all a fake story with fake actors and a remedy for her Darcy-mania, or is it?
Shannon Hale has truly done it again in this adorable tale fit for the Austen-lover!
I would at least read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice first (see review on this blog) or watch one of the movies (see other review, also on this blog).

Word of the Day: Homo-Sapien

 

Okay. So, I got this hilarious word from our friend Melyna, and I totally love it. If you're ever in a position where you want to insult someone but you don't want to really insult them, you're in luck. Calling them a Homo-Sapien is perfect- all you're calling them is a human! This word means, yes, a member of humankind. So call someone a homo-sapien and all you're doing is stating the obvious! :)

Movie Review: Pride & Prejudice

I recently received this movie, and watched ALL 5 1/2 HOURS of it...yep!
It may seem daunting, and you may be obsessed with the Keira Knightley and Matthew Mcfayden version (also amazing), but you'll change your tune when you allow yourself to experience the charming glow of this classic. It's practically word-for-word, and Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle are amazing as Lizzie and Mr. Darcy. Five hundred stars, and I recommend it to anyone!

Mrs. Bennet, hyperactive, annoying and a fidgety flibbertigibbet at times, is bent on marrying off all five of her daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Lydia, and Mary. All are excited when charming Mr. Bingley moves into a manor not far from their own, and he has a grumpy and unmannered yet extremely handsome friend, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth hate each other, you could cut the tension with a knife. But will Lizzie's slight curious interest-and Darcy's undying admiration- spark a new and beautiful romance?

Kids-in-Mind and Common Sense Media do not have reviews, but there is nothing visually explicit, no violence, but there might be a religious exclamation or two in there. Gee, after five hours of movie you forget!

Movie Review: Iron Man

Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, is an epic superhero tale about a snarky billionaire weapons-developer, Tony Stark, who doesn't see anyone's needs but his own and doesn't care about anything but money, fame and ladies...until he's kidnapped by terrorists in Afghanistan. He was shot in the chest, but a brilliant doctor inserts a small arc reactor, connected to a car battery, that is keeping the shrapnel from entering Tony Stark's heart. He is then ordered to build a Stark Industries missile for the terrorist, but has a different idea. Under harsh conditions, he invents something new: the Iron Man suit.
This movie teaches about changing for the better. It teaches about realizing what truly matters and taking responsibility for one's actions. And, of course, how awesome it is to be a hero with a missile-shooting super suit. Anyway, this movie deserves five stars. It's a start to an incredibly freaking awesome series. Watch it. Love it. Obsess over it.

As far as parent reviews go, Iron Man contains lots of violence (it's a superhero movie, for crying out loud :), some language, and an...erm, adult scene. Here are the links to Common Sense Media and Kids in Mind:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/i/ironman.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/iron-man

Book Review: Heidi by Johanna Spyri

        Heidi is a charming classic tale of, yes, Heidi, a young orphan girl with no stable place to belong to. This all changes when her Aunt Detie delivers her to her gruff grandfather (who everyone calls Uncle Alp) to live with him on a mountainside in the Swiss Alps. He had a frightening reputation, but Heidi knew better. She discovers a beautiful natural world on the mountainside, making friends and discoveries and wondering, dreaming, and adoring everything. This footloose and fancy-free life is altered when Aunt Detie comes to get her and take her to live with a family in Frankfurt, as a playmate for a twelve-year-old invalid named Clara. It is here that Heidi realizes how rare-and special- God's blessing of home is.

This book was enchanting and especially cute; I recommend this to anyone. Five stars!

Book Review: Cycles by Lois D. Brown

           Cycles is impressive. Its plot entangles you and keeps you there past the back cover; Lois D. Brown is a living legend.

Renee Beaumont is about to die....again.
That is the slogan for this teen urban-fantasy. This book is unexpected. It's intense. It's...incredible!

Renee has weird flashbacks, her next-door neighbor has samples of her blood for no apparent reason whatsoever, and, even worse, her parents have a dark, dark secret that could very well decide Renee's fate.
 Any more explanation of this thrilling novel will completely and totally spoil its dynamic plot for you. Anyway, this novel is probably grade-school appropriate for sci-fi action. Five stars! Five freaking stars!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Check out its equally amazing sequel, Spaces)

Movie Review: Iron Man 3

    Last night I went to see Iron Man 3, and frankly, it is the best movie I have ever seen before. It is also the best out of all three Iron Man movies and out of all the Avengers movies. I enjoyed every second of it! Marvel has truly outdone itself with this action-packed (seriously- it's better to keep track of what didn't explode), intensely intense, amazingly incredible, fantastic movie. In this third installment to the Iron Man story, America is having scary, mysterious surprise attacks from an insane terrorist that calls himself the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). His bombings and attacks have got everyone terrified, except, of course, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). All he's scared about is how on Earth he's going to protect his girlfriend, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). He has anxiety attacks everywhere he goes, everyone is expecting him to do something (but how can he when no one knows where the lunatic Mandarin is), and he needs the help of a friend, Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), or, with his new star-spangled suit courtesy of Tony himself, The Iron Patriot. At the same time, a creepy science experiment gone evil is threatening the stability of the world itself. This was a fantastic and amazing movie, 10 out of 5 stars.
As far as parent reviews go, Iron Man 3 contains almost constant scenes of violence (it is, after all, a superhero movie). Here are  the Kids-In-Mind and Common Sense Media reviews:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/i/ironman3.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/iron-man-3
Scroll to the bottom of the home page to see a poster.