Suvudu Free Library

http://www.suvudu.com/freelibrary/

For those who love ebooks for free...this is a great place to get sci fi and fantasy ebooks. Once a month, they post a few for download. Go and enjoy what they have posted.

Wicked The Musical

My sister and I had the pleasure to attend Wicked The Musical at the Tulsa PAC last Tuesday and I just have to say it was an experience that I will remember forever. Watch the trailer here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0m6sclZkH0

Coraline

Ahhh...the beauty of stop-motion animation...something that has kind of fell along the wayside for the ease of a computer animation (not trying to take the hard work out of that). I just miss the hand drawn and the claymation that seems to have been replaced. I'm an old fashion girl at heart, though I do love the beauty of CG stuff and nothing can be the special effects. Still, if you are a lover of the genius of Neil Gaiman's work, Coraline will take you on a dark adventure into a little girl's want for everything and the realization that sometimes getting it is not always best.

Coraline is the story of a little girl that is forced to move somewhere new for her parent's work, both who ignore her and are absorbed in their own little worlds. In an effort to entertain herself, she meets Wybie, a weird boy with a stray black cat, who tells her of his grandma's sister disappearing in the same apartment as she lives now.

Coraline laughs it off, but when she find a little door that seems to lead to another world at night, she starts believing that just maybe Wybie is right. On the other side is her life only the way she wants it with everyone catering to her every desire and totally absorbed in making her happy. The only thing that is odd about this new place is everyone except the black stray cat as buttons for eyes and the cat seems to talk. Will Caroline stay or will see she what is really going on in front of her?

For lovers of Nightmare Before Christmas and Corspe Bride, Coraline will give you all the good fun darkeness you've enjoyed, but this is definitely not a movie for younger viewers. It is scary, has a scene that involves a fat woman and a thong, and could give nightmares rather easily. I suggest that this one can wait until they are at least ten, same as the novel that started it all. Besides that, Coraline is visually gorgeous and a definite buy on BluRay, if you have it. The clarity and 3D scenes make it stunning as well as pull you into the world that Gaiman creates.

I would definitely give this one a 4 1/2 out of 5. Be careful what you wish for.

KNOWING

So....Netflix delivered a good movie on my doorstep this morning and with no pre-thoughts (those ones you have even before you open the seal on the envelope) my hubby and I put it in the Playstation and prepared to watch a movie that seemed to stem around numbers and natural disasters. What transpired though had me at the edge of my seat.

Nicolaus Cage stares as a widower raising his young son, whose school celebrates its fiftieth anniversary by digging up a time capsule that was buried on the eve of its opening. Inside they find pictures the children in the past drew, plus a very odd letter filled with numbers. As Cage's character studies these scrawls further, he discovers that each set of them tells of a certain disaster that is about to take place including date as well as number who die. Within minutes, he as well as the watcher begins an adventure to find out exactly what the numbers are running down to.

With over the top, but well done special effects, this movie is a wild and weird ride that begs the question of what is going to happen next. Storyline moves at a steady pace, but beside, Cage and his son, the minor characters are numerous and are almost fly by night, never giving the audience a chance to really care about them. Great twists keep the film entertaining and though not one to own, it is definitely a movie to rent, though definitely not for the young ones. Recommended for those thirteen and older, in my opinion and even then, I urge parents to watch it first. Otherwise, a definite worth seein' film... 3 1/2 out of 5...

Returning Series

Well, thankfully, this last year was better to me than the previous as two of my favorite shows were cancelled and a few other went to pot. Back in the fall and winter of 2008-09, though my TV watching was restored by great shows like Lie To Me, Castle, and Dollhouse....all three returning for another season and hopefully just as impressive as last year's.

"Lie To Me" on Fox was just awesome...putting together a great scientific field with a very awesome cast of individuals. The art of lying has always interested me and this series does everything plus leaves you breathless and waiting for more.

"Castle" on ABC...well, besides having Nathan Fillion as the main role (Can you say HOT?), this series is just an over the top crime fun for all that keeps getting better. Though filled with murders that are pretty easy to solve (coming from a woman who use to eat mysteries for breakfast), the chemistry between Rick Castle and his daughter makes it a great addition to the line up. So glad it's coming back.

"Dollhouse" on Fox...Creator Joss Whedon says it all..intense, great dialogue, and quite a rip roaring plot, this series I think was saved solely because Fox was afraid they would have another Firefly. It has good elements though and I really believe left to mature, might become quite the series, almost as good as Firefly itself. (Please, fellow Browncoats, no shooting me).

Also along for the ride is "Sanctuary", which I reviewed a few entries before. A show about a place for abnormals to go and be free, safe from the destructiveness of humans.

Now, if there is a series here that you love and I have not mentioned, then please let me know. I love the CSIs as well as The Closer. These are just ones that got a second chance to make a good first impression and here's hoping they can and do.

For more info on these or others, check out their websites.

Harry Dresden "Wizard for Hire"

For those of you who have never heard of the other Harry, the one without the scar who instead of a traditional wand carries a drumstick and instead of a snowy owl has an annoying spirit in a skull by the name of Bob, then you are missing a series of books that will capture your heart as well as your soul.

Imagine Harry Potter without his friends, grown up and in a world of muggles he is trying to keep safe from things that not only go bump in the night, but have a rather dangerous way of doing so. Written by the master author, Jim Butcher, The Dresden Files chronicles the life and adventures of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (conjure at your own risk), a wizard who lives and works out of Chicago. Born to a mother who was a witch and a father who was a travelling magician, Harry had a good life until his mother was killed by something. As he had his father continued on, young Harry realized he was special and his uncle wanted to train him.

When a mysterious heart attack takes his father down, he is forced to move in with his uncle, who isn't all that he seems.

'Storm Front' begins that the series as Harry begins to explore the darker venues of the world from demons, vampires, and werewolves, to the Seelie and Unseelie Courtst run by the Fey. If you are an urban fantasy lover or just one who has caught the fantasy bug, these books will definitely by worth your time. Especially if you were a fan of the short lived SciFi channel series that though was good, didn't do the books justice.

Here is Jim Butcher's site for a list of the eleven novels in the series. Not necessary to read them in order but it does help...

http://www.jim-butcher.com/

New Series

So...my sister and I found a new series that we've been watching....well, it is actually going on its second season this fall, but if you have Netflix, you can catch the first season online. It is called 'Sanctuary' and will be on the new improved SyFy channel.

If you like the legends of old like the Folding man, Big Foot, animal mixed humanoids, and just things that go bump in the night, you will enjoy this dark fantasy/sci-fi show. Dr. Helen Magnus (played by Amanda Tapping) is a beautiful scientist that seems to has wisdom beyond her years and with the help of her daughter, Ashley (Emilie Ullerup) and a few other various colleagues, offer sanctuary for the world's 'abnormals', or creatures and beings that come from our legends and myths

Joining their little group is Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), a forensic psychiatrist whose mother was killed by something evil when he was young. Of course, laughed off as just a young boy in trauma, Will is ignored and becomes an eccentric...good at his job, but regarded as crazy. When a case that is not all that it seems lands in his sights, Will comes face to face with Dr. Magnus and her collection of creatures.As the pilot concludes, Helen offers Will a job, to work with her and protect the 'abnormals' finding them and giving them a sanctuary away from the destructive humans, who don't understand them.

Sanctuary reminds me a little of 'X-files' and has the dark raw humor of series like 'Angel' and 'Buffy'. Its characters are well developed and fun, though I have only watched a few episodes. The special effects are television quality and the action is believable or as much as a fantasy show can make it. As for the story lines, they are well played, interesting, and keep you guessing throughout the show.

If you miss the good fantasy felt in 'Angel', or the investigations in 'X-files', 'Sanctuary' offers that in a dark and fun way. It's an extremely entertaining romp and comes back this fall on the SyFy channel. Watch and enjoy!!

'Sanctuary" returns this fall...check out its website for more info.....

http://www.sanctuaryforall.com/