Opinions for Nothing

The Hump List: Yuletide Edition

The reason the Hump List needs to be updated a couple times a year isn't because my tastes change, it's more like, "Out of sight, out of mind." If I haven't seen a humpee in a movie or on TV in awhile, I tend to forget about him.

Have you never heard of a Hump List? It goes by several names. I used to call it the Freebie List, but I prefer the more vulgar Hump List. I'm a classy, classy lady. This is a list of the five celebrities with whom my husband will allow me to have sex, should the opportunity arise. I like to pretend that, since I live in Southern California and I have friends who are actors and producers, this might actually happen one day. That is why I am so diligent about having an up-to-date list.

Humpee: Justin Timberlake, Hump List alum
Recent appearances in which he was hot: Friends With Benefits, In Time

Humpee: Ian Somerhalder, Hump List newbie
Recent appearance in which he was hot: The Vampire Diaries

Humpee: Henry Cavill, Hump List alum
Recent appearances in which he was hot: Immortals, The Tudors, Men's Health cover

Humpee: Karl Urban, Hump List alum
Recent appearance in which he was not hot, but reminded me of times when he was: Star Trek
[This is the only age-appropriate entry on the list. He almost didn't make it.]

Humpee: Chace Crawford, Hump List newbie
Recent appearances in which he was hot: Gossip Girl, my dreams

Kung Fu Panda 2: Movie Review and iPad App Giveaway

If you liked the first Kung Fu Panda, you are going to like Kung Fu Panda 2. It is every bit as funny and enjoyable as the original. Po and the Furious Five face a new foe, one who has a mysterious connection to Po's past. If my past is any predictor of my future, I will be re-watching this movie on a regular basis once the DVD comes out, and I won't mind a bit.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Storybook for iPhone and iPad, by iStoryTime

The Kung Fu Panda 2 Storybook app is great for kids at any reading level. It provides a shortened version of the story, using audio and still images from the movie. The Create-a-Scene feature lets kids put "stickers" onto backgrounds from the movie, and create their own scenes.

My kids, ages 2 and 4, love this app, and use the "read to me" feature. I have two points of contention with this app. One, the navigation. Once you are in the story, it is almost impossible to figure out how to get back to the main menu. Two, a couple times, while trying to get back to the main menu, the graphics in the story blanked out to white while the audio kept playing. I still think it is worth $2.99, though. We have a plane trip coming up next month and I will definitely be checking out other iStoryTime titles to prepare for our trip.

GIVEAWAY

Now, for the best part. Enter for a chance to win a free download of the app. For one chance, leave a comment on this post letting me know you want to win. For a second chance, tweet this, then come back and leave a second comment letting me know you tweeted.

Tweet: Enter to win a free download of the Kung Fu Panda 2 iPhone/iPad app from @PeevedMichelle. http://peev.in/irgvRm

No entries past Noon Pacific on Monday, June 13th. Good luck!

I received a free download of this app for the purpose of writing this review.

Date Night -- DVD Review and Giveaway

Did you see DATE NIGHT when it was in theaters? It seems like everyone I know did. I wanted to see it because I love Tina Fey and Steve Carell, but it came out at the height of my 2010 IS TRYING TO KILL ME phase. (Note: This phase is not yet complete.) So, when I received an email offering me a review copy of DATE NIGHT, I might have been so happy that my eyes welled up with hormonal, on-the-verge-of-losing-it tears. Not unlike several date nights in my distant past.

This movie provided a funny, light diversion for the evening. I highly recommend the DVD for a couple who can't get out of the house for a date night and have to make do with a couple hours of alone time on the couch after the kids go to bed. The crazy mess that is the date night in this movie will make you appreciate your night in. I was a little concerned in the beginning, when the date first goes awry, because the movie looked like it was veering off into cheeseball action flick territory, but it quickly righted itself and I settled in for an hour and a half of much-needed escapism.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - DVD Review

A friend recommended the Percy Jackson series of books to me. I am always excited to discover a new series of books when the series is complete. Man, I hate waiting for the next book in a series to come out. The Percy Jackson series is approximately ten times better than Twilight series. It is well written, the action is exciting, and the characters are relatable and likable.

I was really looking forward to the movie because the books were so exciting. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief is based on the first book in the series, where we meet Percy as he finds out the truth about the father who left him when he was an infant. Percy discovers that his father was a Greek god and that Percy needs to go to a camp for halfbloods in order to keep safe from sinister forces who want to kill him. Percy takes on an epic quest to save himself, his friends, and the world. (Don't worry, it isn't as over-the-top as it sounds.)

This book should have translated so well to film and, in better hands, it probably would have. The pacing of the movie was S O  S L O W. It felt like it took all night to watch it. I was also disappointed about how little they showed of Percy discovering his heritage and his special abilities. Regardless, I still liked seeing a story I enjoyed immensely make it to film.

If you have not read the Percy Jackson series, do it! It is written for the middle school set, so sometimes you see some things coming, but the writing isn't dumbed down and the action carries you quickly through the books. Older kids and adults will both enjoy the books.

If you have read the books and haven't seen the movie, you can win a copy of the DVD/Blu-Ray here.

ENTER TO WIN ONE OF TWO COPIES OF Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief on DVD/Blu-Ray

Leave a comment on this post by midnight Sunday 7/25. One entry per person. I will randomly select two winners.

I was provided with a free copy of this DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment for the purpose of creating this review.

Winner of the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian DVD/Blu-Ray Giveaway

And the winner is Cheryl W., as chosen by the random number generator at random.org.

Email your mailing address to me at peevedmichelle at yahoo dot com, or DM me on Twitter.

DVD Review and Giveaway -- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

I have been meaning to post this review and giveaway for WEEKS. The holidays, they done snuck up on me. First, I could never find time to watch the movie. I finally popped it in the DVD player one day during the week of Thanksgiving when my friend, Joanne, and I found ourselves stuck in the house with the kids. Then, I could never find time to post this review. Long story short, this review is going to be short, too.

I enjoyed this movie. I don't think Joanne did. She kept saying, "We are not the target demographic for this movie." I actually enjoyed Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian more than the first Night at the Museum. In this one, Ben Stiller's character isn't as much of a loser as he was in the first one, and he isn't battling against the museum exhibits; they are united with him against a common foe.

If you liked Night at the Museum, you will like Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. If you never saw Night at the Museum but you have school-age children, you will probable enjoy this movie as well. At least your kids will.

WIN IT

I have one copy of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian to giveaway.

To enter for a chance to win it, leave a comment here telling me whether or not you watch Glee and who your favorite character is if you watch it. (Not as random as it seems. The coach on Glee plays Attila the Hun in this movie.

For another chance to win, tweet about this giveaway. "RT @PeevedMichelle Enter to win a copy of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Ends Monday 12/14 http://bit.ly/84xhI6" You must leave a second comment on this post letting me know you tweeted it. (If you aren't on Twitter, but you are my friend on Facebook, you can get a second entry by reposting this link on Facebook. Again, you must leave a second comment on this post letting me know you reposted this on Facebook.)

Contest ends Monday 12/14, Midnight Pacific.

I was provided with a free copy of this DVD for the purpose of creating this review.

Still Not Live Blogging American Idol: Top 7 Results

But I am watching it right now. Why is Anoop in the bottom three again? Is it because he is Indian? Rude!

Oh, good, he's safe, so it is down the Lil and Matt. Based on motherfucking Yahoo's blaring headline "Did a judges favorite get sent home?" I am guessing that Lil is out. Even if it weren't for motherfucking Yahoo, I'd be hoping it was her and not Matt. I feel like the judges have been clear and consistent in their feedback to her and she just doesn't get it or hasn't listened.

The judges finally used their save and it was on Matt. I can't say I am surprised, but I am definitely happy about it. It really should have been Lil going home tonight.

I really, truly, sincerely hope that the top two are not Danny and Allison. I am so over both of them.

The AIG Bonus "Scandal"

Getting mad at AIG is like getting mad at your small child for eating the entire candy bar your father-in-law gave her. Maybe you should focus your outrage on the person who gave your kid the candy bar with no instruction about how to consume it.

AIG asked for money. The government gave AIG money. AIG is spending the money. That's pretty much all there is to the story. If you're pissed about how AIG is spending the money, you should be pissed at the government for not putting any restrictions on AIG when the government handed over the money.

DVD Reviews: Definitely, Maybe and The Brave One

I had planned to do a full movie review for each of these but, [blah, blah, blah, excuse, excuse, excuse].  We recently watched these DVDs and I thought they were great. Fantastic. Worth watching.

Definitely, Maybe

I should preface this opinion by letting you know that I love romantic comedies. On the one hand, that means I was predisposed to like Definitely, Maybe starring Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin. On the other hand, that also means I know a good one when I see one. Definitely, Maybe is sweet, touching and funny. It isn't the usual romantic comedy, but it still delivers everything you expect in one.

The Brave One

I LOVE when bad guys are shot/punched/stabbed/clotheslined/waterboarded by good guys. I LOVE vigilante justice. I LOVE badassery. This movie had all of that along with excellent screenwriting, which focused on story and character. Amazingly, it did not have gratuitous violence. Jodie Foster was impeccable and I have new respect for Terrence Howard.