During World War I, two British soldiers -- Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake -- receive seemingly impossible orders. In a race against time, they must cross over into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades -- including Blake's own brother.
MY REVIEW
During the historical First World War, two soldiers are tasked with a seemingly impossible mission, deliver a attack cancellation order in hopes to save the lives of 1,600 soldiers, including the brother of one messenger.
The story is very well written, the scenes are incredibly detailed. The devastation of war was depicted both subtly in the background of each scene and portrayed well through the eyes of any character on screen. The cast delivered astounding performances. The shock and mental trauma that was being displayed while still following orders trying desperately to achieve what seems so unattainable. The demeanor of the supporting characters showed how daunting a situation they faced. Once they crossed the front line, they were all alone.
This movie is not an action adventure where a muscle bound hero kills ‘em all. It is the story of what a real hero looks like, not impervious to pain, tires and fails at times. The acting in this movie is exciting and awe inspiring. It was surprising how many opportunities went by to make his way easier by killing, but attempted to avoid or run from rather than kill the enemy.
In celebration of the movie 1917 being out now on digital, blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and DVD, we are giving you a chance to win a copy of this movie to watch at home. Leave a comment below sharing who you would watch this movie with.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received 1917 on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Powered with incredible speed, Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz), aka The Blue Blur, embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until he accidentally knocks out the power grid and sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using his unique power for world domination. Sonic teams up with The Donut Lord, aka Sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), to save the planet in this action-packed hit that’s fun for the whole family.
MY REVIEW
My husband and I have been huge fans of Sonic The Hedgehog since we were both kids playing the videogame on Sega. So when we had kiddos and when they were old enough, they fell in love with Sonic too. They use to watch the cartoon shows of Sonic and got so into it that my son was even Sonic one year for Halloween.
When we heard that they were turning one of our favorite animated characters into a movie, my family and I were so excited to see it in theatres, but with everything going on with Covid-19 we didn't get a chance to see the movie on big screen before we started social distancing. So when we got the chance to watch the movie, thanks to our friends at Paramount, I jumped at the opportunity and it couldn't have happened at a better time with us being home quarantined until further notice.
We broke out the popcorn machine, grabbed some of our favorite snacks and sat down as a family to watch this movie and let me just say, it did not disappoint. When we first see Sonic we see him as baby/younger Sonic who is a special hedgehog that has so much speed and with evil beings after him because of his special abilities his caretaker, an owl, called Longclaw fights to save Sonic from what is after him and while doing so gives him a bag of rings that are magical and open up as a portal to wherever sonic needs to go to be safe.
Next we see Sonic, years later, enjoying his life in the quiet small town of Green Hill, which is the name of the first level of the original Sonic The Hedgehog game. It was so awesome to see that they added that in to the movie and I loved that my kids knew right a way that Green Hill was from the videogame. As he's enjoying his life in Green Hill we are then introduced to Sheriff Tom Wachowski who is looking to fulfil something more as a cop. Being a sheriff in a small town with little to no trouble, has Tom feeling like there is more in life that he could be doing, so he makes an announcement that he is going to be leaving to transfer to the city with his wife. Before the announcement and when we first see Tom on duty, he is at a checkpoint, but is bored out of his mind until Sonic flashes by and his radar gun at such high speed. While trying to find out what is speeding by, Tom gets out of his police car to find one of Sonic's quills and takes it home.
While running around Green Hill, Sonic decides to play baseball by himself and gets so powered up that he knocks the power grid out and the army brings in Dr. Robotnik to find out the cause of the black out. Jim Carrey plays Dr. Robotnik so good and just what we would imagine his character to be a narcissus who thinks he's better than everyone else.
While Dr. Robotnik is in town, Sonic is almost caught by him and goes to Tom for help. He calls him the Donut Lord for always talking and eating the donuts. While Sonic is trying to get Tom's help, Tom shoots Sonic with a tranquilizer and when that happens, Sonic takes out one of his rings to leave Green Hill and to go to Mushroom planet, but see's Tom's shirt saying San Francisco, so the bag of rings ends up there. (Tom throws in a dad joke about Mushroom planet later, my husband and I thought it was hilarious, my kids laughed and thought it was a dad joke they thought their dad would say) Tom's wife is away visiting her sister in San Francisco, so when Sonic wakes up, he convinces Tom to take him there to get his bag of rings so that he can leave Earth.
On there way to San Francisco, we see where Sonic's love from chili dogs come from as they stop at a bar for a break. My kids loved seeing him eat a chili dog and seeing how the movie implemented some of what we see in the videgame. They also loved seeing Sonic interact with Tom's dog and how Sonic gets his infamous red shoes. I won't spoil the ending for you on how or if he beats Dr. Robotnik, but I'm sure you can guess.
From beginning to end, my family absolutely loved this movie and we loved how it left off, in hopes of a sequel where we get to see Sonic's sidekick, Tails.
Sonic The Hedgehog is now available to buy on digital download as of today, March 31st and will be available on on Blu-ray™ and 4K Ultra HD™ May 19. For more information you can check them out on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Sonic The Hedgehog movie at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Like many others around the globe right now, I’m spending these couple of weeks at home, watching, reading, learning. Finding new ways to connect and reflect. What a hectic few weeks it has been for so many! I couldn’t be more excited to get an opportunity to select three books from our friends at DK Canada and share them with you.
I started off with: Your Well-Being Garden, How to Make Your Garden Good For You by Alistair Griffiths and Matt Keightley. Right from the get-go, amidst a global pandemic, even just READING this gardening book filled me with comfort. Stunning pictures, this book is packed with information for every level of gardener, it’s a beginner’s thrill for me. Chapters filled with all sorts of helpful information on things like healthy soil, growing your own food, attracting pollinators and sustainable gardens (my fav!) It covers everything from garden designs to selecting the perfect fragrances and, of course, how to make your garden good for you! Your Well-Being Garden is retailed for $29.99.
My second read this week is Photography by Tom Ang. To say this book is visually appealing is an understatement. This book is beautifully designed, page-by-page. Excellent conversation piece and coffee table-worthy for sure! Packed with galleries of photos and tightly organized topics covering history of photography, art and techniques, it covers everything. Every single page has something fantastic to glue your eyes to. It’s a winner in my book and is retailed for $39.00.
My next and last mission: The Knitting Book by Vikki Haffenden & Frederica Patmore. Knitting is a craft I have always admired and always wanted to learn. The attractive colourful pages promise to make an experienced knitter out of anyone, even if you’ve never held a pair of knitting needles before. And lucky for me, I never have! This book is beautifully designed and organized by colour-coded tabs covering everything from basic tools and materials to varying degrees of knitting techniques and contains an awesome collection of stitch patterns. I’ll admit, I need a bit more practice but following along in the easy-to-use instructions was a blast! The Knitting Book is retailed for $52.00.
All three books was such a great distraction to have when I needed to unplug from the online world and for us keeping our social distancing from friends and family. I picked up a new hobby with The Knitting Book, learned some new tricks to apply to my garden and the Photography book was just beautiful to look through. I'd definitely recommend all three books and if you get a chance to get your hands on one and check it out, please let me know in the comments!
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned books at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Are you ready to hear Robert Downey Jr. talk to animals?! I know I am! I'm super excited to share with our readers that we're hosting a giveaway for two Canadian readers to have a chance at winning their own copy of the movie, Dolittle on blu-ray, in celebration of the movie being released on digital download today, March 24th!
I don't remember watching the original movie, but I did see Dr. Dolittle with Eddie Murphy when I was younger and absolutely loved it. We just recently watched it with the kids so we can talk about the difference between the movies. My family and I are super excited to share our review with you all in a couple weeks.
Robert Downey Jr. electrifies as the man who could talk to animals: DOLITTLE. After losing his wife, he hermits himself away behind the high wall of his manor but is forced to set sail on an epic adventure when the queen falls gravely ill. Helping Dolittle in search of a rare cure are his rambunctious animal friends—including Chee-Chee (Malek), an anxious, self-conscious gorilla; Dab-Dab (Octavia Spencer, The Help), an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck; the bickering duo of cynical, neurotic ostrich Plimpton (Kumail Nanjiani, The Big Sick, “Silicon Valley”) and chilly-but-chill polar bear Yoshi (Cena); as well as a headstrong parrot named Polynesia (Thompson).
Dolittle is available on digital download now and on 4K Ultra HD™, BLU-RAY™ and DVD: April 7, 2020. For more information about Dolittle, be sure to head to their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below sharing which animal you'd love the ability to talk to with.
A powerful and thought-provoking true story, “Just Mercy” follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.
MY REVIEW
When I first heard about the movie, Just Mercy, I was watching Ellen when Michael B. Jordan came on stage to promote it. Then after learning that this movie was based on a true story and that the person he portrayed, Bryan Stevenson, was also a guest on the show, I had to go out and get the book the movie is based off of. I did. I read it within a few days and then I was very excited to get sent the movie to review.
This movie has an amazing cast, each person portraying a real person and acting their heart out, you can tell that a lot of work went into making this movie to show people what can happen when racism is involved. I'm a black woman and grew up in a black family. I'm no stranger to seeing and witnessing racism growing up towards myself and members of my family. So this movie did hit close to home seeing someone get sentence for most of their life for a crime they didn't commit just because of the colour of their skin. I cried. A lot. I cried because this happened in the past to many innocent people because of the colour of their skin and because racism issues like this are still happening today, decades later.
The film begins in the year 1987, the year Walter McMillian is arrested for a crime her did not commit because of one coerced testimony. You can tell from the arrest and the coerced testimony that the sheriff is under a lot of pressure and is just trying to wrap this case up as fast as he can to solve the murder of a white woman.
Most of the movie is focused on Bryan Stevenson, as he graduates from Harvard in the early 90's and moves to Alabama to take on this case (among others) to prove that Walter is innocent. We see Bryan file for many appeals to get a wrongful conviction and witness racism throughout the system, starting from the sheriff all the way to the judge. Throughout this case we see Bryan receiving racism towards him as well for trying to get his client out, from being pulled over by cops, to having to strip down to visit his client, we see how far the system goes when hate is involved.
A story that should be watched by all, Just Mercy is now available today, March 24th, on digital download and you can catch the release of this film on blu-ray and DVD April 14th! For more information about Just Mercy, be sure to head over to Warner Bros.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Just Mercy on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Hi friends. I know right now the world seems upside down with everything going on with Covid-19 and with everyone participating in social distancing. Some of you are working from home and others are home because the kids are home from school. Either way, we're all going out as little as possible to help stop the spread of this virus. This means we have some time on our hands and with Spring being here, I've started my Spring cleaning, one room at a time. From de-cluttering to getting those hidden corners of the house clean, I've been trying to make my way through my home one day at a time.
From vacuums to lights and air purifier, Dyson has lots of options when it comes to spring cleaning your home. Below are a few that would make a great addition:
Dyson Pure Cool Me™ (personal air purifier fan)
Dyson Pure Cool Me is the perfect personal fan to keep the air cool and clean in your home. A must-have for desks or bedside, this machine will help fight off allergies so you can prioritize work or a good night's sleep. If you are someone with seasonal allergies, like myself, this personal air purifier fan would be the perfect addition to add so that you can breath in clean air and sleep better. Retailed at $399.99, this fan comes in three different colours, white, black and blue.
Dyson Lightcycle Morph
The latest launch by Dyson is the Dyson Lightcycle Morph, this high-tech light is a great Spring companion to make the jump to daylight savings a little easier! This machine gives consistent lighting that simulates daylight, helping to naturalize circadian rhythms! being that we spend a majority of our time indoors, this light tracks daylight and transforms for different uses that provide the right light throughout the day. The Dyson Lightcycle Morph comes in two version, a desktop and floor version, both versions are in black and white and retail between $849-$1,199.
Dyson V11
Dyson V11 is the latest and greatest in floor care from Dyson. With multiple surface detection and a light-weight, cord-free structure this machine will make giving your place a seasonal tidy fun! The Dyson V11 is retailed at $799-$999 (depending on the model) and comes in three different models, Dyson V11 Absolute, Dyson V11 Absolute+ and Dyson V11 Torque Drive. All three models have up to a 60 minute floor cleaning run time, which gives you plenty of time to get most of your floors clean.
For more information about the above mentioned products and other Dyson products, be sure to head on over to Dyson Canada.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. No compensation was received.
One love can change your life. One life can change the world. From the creators of I CAN ONLY IMAGINE comes an inspiring love story for the ages. Rediscover the wonder of love in I STILL BELIEVE, based on the real-life story of chart-topping singer Jeremy Camp.
MY REVIEW
When I first heard about Jeremy Camp, it was about eight years ago. I received his Christmas album, Christmas: God With Us, and fell in love with it. I still listen to that album during the holiday season as well as his Reckless album I got a chance to review. So when I got the opportunity to watch an early screening of the movie, I Still Believe, based on how he got started and how he met and fell in love with his first wife, Melissa, I was very excited to see it. I love that through this movie I got to learn a little bit more about Jeremy and his journey about love and loss. Another reason I was excited to watch this movie was because it stars both KJ Apa and Britt Robertson, who also star in the movie, A Dog’s Purpose together. There is just something about their chemistry because like in the movie, A Dog’s Purpose, in I Still Believe, you see their chemistry a lot more and how well they go together.
When we first see Jeremy in, I Still Believe, he is packing and leaving his family home in Indiana to attend a Christian college in California. Before he leaves his father tries to give him his guitar and when Jeremy declines his father’s guitar, he is later handed a brand new one from his dad before getting on the bus to head to school. While attending school he meets fellow singer, Jean-Luc, who he forms a great friendship with and who he later learns is great friends with Melissa and the three start to hangout together. It’s when Jeremy and Melissa start to develop feelings for one another is when Jeremy learns that Jean-Luc also share the same feelings towards Melissa, but she only sees Jean-Luc as a friend.
As Melissa and Jeremy’s feelings and relationship grows, an argument happens between the two and they both call it quits. It’s when Jeremy is home for the holidays and gets a call from Jean-Luc about Melissa being sick in the hospital is when Jeremy rushes to her side. It’s then where he learns that Melissa is diagnosed with cancer. From that day forward he never leaves her side.
Throughout their story together, we see them fight to stay strong and to keep their faith alive. We see the good, where Melissa and Jeremy finally get married and we see the hard times when her cancer returns and we see how strong Melissa is as she puts her faith in God and in hopes to getting better. The highs and lows in this movie sent me on an emotional roller-coaster. I smiled, laughed and more than anything, I cried a lot throughout this film. So be sure to bring a box of tissues. Seeing the love these two people have for one another and how much they believe in one another just warmed my heart. Not only their love for one another, but how much they believe in God and have faith that everything will happen the way it’s supposed to.
I Still Believe is such a heart-warming movie that shares the message that through love and loss, there is always hope in the middle of tragedy with a bit of faith.
I Still Believe will be in theatres throughout Canada, starting Friday, March 13th! I’m excited to share with our Canadian readers a chance to win tickets to go and see this beautiful movie. All you need to do is leave a comment below and share with me a memorable date you’ve had or if you’ve never been on a date, share with us your dream date. That’s it!
For more information about I Still Believe, be sure to head over to their website and also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. This post is sponsored by Graf-Martin Communications Inc. on behalf of Mongrel Media.
Wander through an interactive nightmare set within the confines of a once-happy household. Piece together the mystery behind a harrowing series of events while struggling to survive encounters with an entity that relentlessly stands in the way of finding absolution.
Explore a home crystalized by tragedy and uncover the heartbreaking secrets hidden within messages, artwork, household objects, and other vestiges of domestic life. Uncover clues and use items to unlock new paths and make discoveries while doing everything possible to avoid the malevolent presence inhabiting the residence. Hide under tables or beneath beds and harness light sources like camera flashes to stun the spirit and momentarily elude its pursuit.
Infliction couples a story-driven approach to horror with a dynamic atmosphere to produce an unsettling and unpredictable first-person experience that deals in mature subject matter. Imbuing familiar elements of everyday life with the supernatural, Infliction delivers a terrifying otherworldly adventure that hits frighteningly close to home.
MY REVIEW
Infliction: Extended Cut was definitely an interesting game to play. The graphic quality was great and the resolution wasn't too bad either. It was fairly interactive and left a little to the imagination. Almost every object in this game was given the option for inspection, which gave the whole detective aspect a plus.
I had a little difficulty with the first objective which only made it all the more interesting. It didn't follow too many cliches & stuck to its original plot. Never straying too far, but still leaving enough for the player to imagine– all in all, it was definitely a game I'd suggest for a friend to play at midnight just for kicks because playing in the dark gave this game a more creepy vibe that left me spooked at times.
Infliction: Extended cut is now available on both Xbox One and Playstation 4 and you can play Infliction on Steam, Xbox One, Playstation 4 and soon on Nintendo Switch.
For more on Infliction: Extended Cut, visit the official site.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Infliction: Extended Cut on Xbox One at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
And just like that we're in the month of March! January felt like the longest month ever and February went by so fast. March Break will be here before you know it and our good friends from Cineplex Events will be bringing back some of our favourite family friendly movies to the big screen just in time and at an amazing price, $2.99!
So if you're looking for a way to make this March Break fun for your family, but also on a budget, I definitely recommend taking them to the movies to watch some of the films being brought back to the big screen. Liven up March Break with the Creepy & Kooky, Courageous Canines and Cuddly Creatures throughout Cineplex theatres in Ontario!
From March 16-20, 2020, participating theatres will host daily matinee screenings of some of the hottest animated films from the past two years:
The Addams Family
Get ready to snap your fingers! The Addams Family is back on the big screen in the first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block. Funny, outlandish and completely iconic, the Addams family redefines what it means to be a good neighbour.
Arctic Dogs
Swifty the Arctic fox works in the mailroom of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service but dreams of one day becoming a top dog. To prove himself worthy of the top dog role, Swifty secretly commandeers one of the sleds and delivers a package to a mysterious location, stumbling upon an evil plan to melt the polar ice caps and flood the world. Now Swifty has to enlist the help of his friends to save the day.
Missing Link
Mr. Link recruits explorer Sir Lionel Frost to help find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, the trio of explorers travel the world to help their new friend.
PAW Patrol Double Feature
Audiences can get a double helping of PAW Patrol on the big screen with this movie marathon that includes Mighty Pups and Ready Race Rescue.
PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups
When a fallen meteor gives the pups mighty powers, they’ll need to use them on a super heroic mission to keep Mayor Humdinger and his nephew Harold from taking over Adventure Bay.
PAW Patrol: Ready Race Rescue
The pups have built an awesome race track and are ready to be the pit crew for their race hero. But when the legendary racer is unable to drive, he calls on his biggest fan-pup Marshall to take the wheel and race in his place.