Grapevine Fires (IDAHO is BURNING) & Rising from the Ashes

F I R E

These are pictures of the Charlotte Fire (as it is being called) or the Mink Creek/Gibson Jack Fire in Pocatello, Idaho aka where I live.

On Thursday, the day started out just fine and then went up in flames literally!

I was leaving work and stepped outside to see this fire! Right as I got outside the hospital doors I am facing these HUGE plumes and clouds of smoke darkening the sky. The flames raged wildly. I could see them from where I was standing. It looked like a volcano exploded or a war zone! I was in complete shock. Pocatello was burning. What was the most frightening thing was that my family live up Gibson Jack right where the fire was.

It was the worst fire I have ever witnessed in my life. I immediately pulled out my phone and called my mom. My stomach churned and twisted in knots with fear and anxiety when she answered, crying and freaking out. My heart sunk. My mother explained that the police were not letting people go up Mink Creek and Gibson Jack or anywhere near the fire. She said it was close to our house and that she and Bob (my stepdad) thought the house was going to burn down!
I raced to my grandma's house (where we had all decided to meet) listening to Death Cab for Cutie's "Grapevine Fires" and praying, praying, praying that our house would be saved, praying for a miracle in a situation completely out of control. My mom, Jordan (sister), Chrish (brother), my grandma, Madison (Jordan's friend), and my Aunt Michelle were all gathered together in the living room glued to the TV screen as the news reporters updated us on the fire.

I felt so bad for my mother who couldn't stop sobbing. She was worried because Bob went up to our house, climbed the hill, so that he could save our horses and let them free. He was taking a long time. We couldn't get a hold of him and it scared us because he has bad asthma. 

We were all incredibly relieved when Bob pulled up safe and sound in his truck. My mom ran to him and embraced him. He was upbeat, calm, and positive in the time of such a crises. I love that about him, always optimistic and hopeful. He let the horses go. They got away. He thought our home was going to turn to ashes and burn down. He took some stunning, terrifying videos of the raging inferno that was only yards away from our home.

Everyone who lived in or near the fire was evacuated. For a few hours, we sat, paced, talked, prayed, and waited ever so anxiously and nervously for the outcome. The question that hung heavier than the summer heat in the air was suffocating: will the house be burned to the ground, leaving my family homeless? Or would we be ever so blessed with a miracle, that our house would be spared?

All the while we were reminded of what truly matters, the most important thing is each other, the ones we love, family, people. Home isn't where your material possessions are stored. It isn't a place with polished hardwood floors or chandeliers hanging from vaulted ceilings or big theater rooms filled with every movie imaginable. Home is in the hearts of the ones we love. Home is family. Home is each other.

What a beautiful thing this life is, no matter the fire that burns all around us. If we just stick together, hold onto each other, and never take anyone or anything for granted, then I know we can make it through anything, through everything. Fire doesn't just destroy, it refines and purifies. It may hurt and burn at the onset, but the end result shines bright as the stars. Life is about thriving and triumphing after tragedy, together forever.

We kept getting mixed messages from friends of our family members that our house was burned one minute and the next that it was spared. It was nerve wracking. I felt so badly for everyone in this town. Prayers for rain were on my lips. I was just in total shock and awe that the unexpected always happens. We must always remember that people are what matters. Love matters. Everything else is replaceable, but family, love and friends are irreplaceable. Look at the people struggling with this exact same situation in Utah, Colorado, and other places in the United States. It only takes one spark to ignite a fire that can burn miles in minutes. This could happen to you. 

mY miracle

This is my family's house... a safe place in the midst of disaster and destruction. Some people may believe it is luck, but I know it as a miracle. Life is beautiful no matter the fire that burns around us. Home is in the hearts of the ones we love. Home is family. Our house was saved. I wish I could say the same for others. I heard nearly 60 homes were destroyed. I can't even begin to offer an explanation. I can say God is good. I know this was a miracle.

Just because you can't see or imagine a good reason why God might allow something to happen doesn't mean there can't be one. What matters now is coming together as a community and reaching out, helping, and sending prayers to those who were affected and victims of this fire and the fires all over the country. We all need one another and should never take this fact for granted, never forget it or take it lightly. Caring is sharing. Open your hearts lovelies and lets make this world a better place one person at a time.

I also send my thoughts and prayers with a heart overflowing with love and gratitude for all the brave firefighters who risk their lives and work relentlessly and fearlessly to put out these fires and triumph over disasters. 

Live by love

<3 Charley Brooke

This is what I believe to be true: You have to do everything you can, and if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining and the moon and all the stars that light up the night sky.

Uta no Prince sama Anime review

English: Uta no Prince Sama

Synonyms: Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 1000%, UtaPri

Type: TV

Episodes: 13

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Jul 3, 2011 to Sep 24, 2011

Producers: A-1 Pictures, Dwango, Showgate

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shoujo, Harem

Duration: 25 min. per episode

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

When I first heard about this show, I already had suspected that it was going to be a harem, for I had already watched La Corda d'Oro, which also had a musical theme to it. 

However, the only differences... Uta no Prince-Sama Maji Love 1000% doesn't center around magic, and the talent is all real. The show is pretty predictable as your watch. But if you know that going in, it makes it enjoyable. You’re waiting for those expected moments to happen and can celebrate when they do. Utapri is cheesy too. Though like the predictability, it adds to the show’s charm.

Haruka Nanami who has a dream of being a famous composer after falling for singing idol Hayato. She attends Saotome Academy, ran by a headmaster who’s so eccentric that it would put Albus Dumbledore to shame. There she meets six lovely men all with talent for singing and music. At the end of the year to graduate, one composer must be paired with an idol to pass and win their debut. But Haruka must face her biggest trial when all six men choose her to be their partner.

The cast of characters is definitely a high point. Though, Nanami is much to be desired as the main character. She’s the stereotypical “Oh no! Look how clumsy I am, but I have a huge heart!” This is nothing new in this genre. It would be nice to see a new mold in reverse harem anime where the main chick is actually mean and catty. She meets the men and gets put down. It’s the kindness of the men that help her change into that better person. Nanami does have some redeeming qualities that make her tolerable. For example, she starts the school lacking the ability to read music. But through hard work and effort, she teaches herself to not let her friends down. Her talent is something she works for which is admirable.

The men are honestly the greatest part of the show. The six of them counterbalance each other well. One or two of them aren’t quite as interesting, but they would miss them if they weren’t in the show. First there’s Ittoki, who’s the optimistic one of the group. He pairs well with Nanami and usually can help her convince the group to partake in activities. Ichinose is the boy who has the biggest drive in the plot. The last several episodes revolve around him and for good reason. He has secrets being kept from the rest of the cast.

Hijirikawa and Ren are the next two. They grew up together and are roommates, but act as if they don’t like each other. Hijirikawa is serious and conservative while Ren is quite the flirt. Finally, there are Syo and Natsuki who are childhood friends. Syo’s character is interesting because he’s the shortest. One would think that he would be cute and adorable. But he’s tough and won’t take crap from anyone including Natsuki. Natsuki takes the role of being the one in the group who loves adorable things. But he has a dark side which was both humorous and surprising.

Music is such a big part of this show. Every episode has a character song in it. It’s well written. The metaphors in the song usually push the underlying feelings of the character singing. These feeling might not have a chance to be directly stated, so adding that extra layer adds to the character development. But since it’s such a big part of these characters and their lives, one must be curious to read the manga. I want to know how the music transfers over, and how it transfers to written form.

But if you are a fan of character songs, you won’t be disappointed in this show.

The art and animation is great even if the boys frolic like they’re trying to fling off invisible jellyfish.  The fluidity of their movements is well drawn as well as their facial expressions in the moment. It is subtle aspects and details that can really make an anime. For example, the frays on their clothes actually move. Other shows sometimes make the option to overlook this detail. The end of the last episode when Starish (the boys’ band) performs their debut song has surprises too. Instead of replaying the ending animation again, they added new parts to look for through the end credits. It’s rewarding that they didn’t repeat material.

One big critique lies in Nanami’s animation. She is the only character that doesn’t have light drawn in her eyes. It’s off putting especially since she’s the light to these men.

If Utapri was a few episodes longer, things could have more time to be fully explained. But there’s so much time focused on Ichinose towards the end of the season that the other men are left out. It’s the only bit of insight we have on everyone’s past

Overall, Utapri is definitely not for everyone. It’s not the greatest or most ground breaking anime, but it’s enjoyable. Ladies would appreciate it if they want to have a fun girl’s night together. You can stare at the pretty men and roll your eyes at Nanami. The characters are fun while the music will get your toes tapping.

Anime opening titles:

Boku kara Kimi ga Kienai Manga review

Synonyms: You can't disappear from me

Type: Manga

Volumes: 4

Chapters: 23

Status: Finished

Published: Not available

Genres: Romance, Shoujo

Authors: Aikawa, Saki (Story & Art)

Serialization: Shoujo Comic

 I recommend this to those of you who are looking for a non-typical male lead. Simply because he is not like the usual serious-looking, cool guy

Im not sure if its one of your typical manga romances...but out of all the romance stories i've read the plot is not love at first site..or i really hate you, then love type of relationship going on...the male lead always feeling inferior to his older brother falls for a girl who seemingly takes no interest in his older brother; but due to a unrelated occurrence it is then that she falls in love with the older brother cause he saves her from a almost train accident. Yeah.. its a typical shoujo manga.. but I still liked it. ^_^

Hotaru managed to get in the high school where Haruna sensei teaches to see him again! However, on her first day there, she meets a very unpleasant guy who looks just like her beloved sensei...well thats how the story starts. It turns out to be both are brothers. Both fall in love with Hotoharu. Who will she choose?

For the female lead, Kanzaki Hotaru... She's a girl who doesn't hide her feelings for someone. She's kind. She's cute. I don't think she has a strong personality but she's brave. 

For the male lead, Haruna Kousuke... One thing I like about this manga is that Aikawa Saki-san exposed Kousuke's mind. If you'll notice, most of the romance manga, don't give emphasis on what the male lead was thinking, or the male lead doesn't have enough words to say to himself(?) But this guy, when he's frustrated, he don't just sigh. Readers can also read his mind. Not just that, it also shows in his actions. Do you get it? I mean, he don't just put his hand in his pocket. Also, he's not the type of guy who'll wait for the girl to confess to him. He's not as quiet as most of the prince-like male leads. He talks. He talks more. AHAHAHHAHA!!! XD Why do I feel like I'm defending him? XD He's a nice guy. :D

And there is Haruna Kakeru. Older brother of Kousuke and a teacher at school. He is the main reason that Hotaru enters the high school. Apparently according to Hotaru, he is the one who saved her from the train accident. So she develops feelings for him. He initially doesnt feel anything for her but as the story progresses, He falls for her too. 

The story is good.. Not too fast, not too slow. The concept of the story's nice too! The guy behind Haruna Kousuke has a BIG part in it!

The characters are really what make this manga worth reading. Though the plot is somewhat predicable it is still enjoyable. Reading Boku kara Kimi ga Kienai you might not find yourself at the edge of your seat dying to know what happens next, but you will find yourself enjoying the more gentle-paced story of a girl in love with her sensei and the drama that ensues with the series of misunderstanding and unfortunate events.It left me a very deep impression

The art is very amazing. But, there are too much hair covering Kousuke's eyes. :P But I like it that I can still see how his eyebrows look like when his mood changes. :D

What made an impression on me Haruna Kousuke's personality which pretty rare in shoujo manga. So I will definitely recommend it.  

Kristen Stewart Admits: ‘I’m Pretentious'

Kristen sure doesn’t ever act pretentious or look pretentious. So why does she say this about herself? Read on.

Kristen Stewart stays true to herself on screen. The 22-year-old says she knows she sounds “pretentious” by revealing just how choosy she can be when picking roles like her lead in On The Road or Snow White and the Huntsman. But she has a pretty good explanation – here’s why!

“I’m not in the entertainment industry, I don’t do that,” she says. “It sounds so pretentious but it’s kind of the only way I can do that, I’m so not a performer, things need to be … things need to feel so important. That if you don’t do it you feel you’re failing everyone … that you’re depriving the world of something that really mattered to you and really affected you and it’s worth it.”

We told you that her boyfriend Robert Pattinson called himself pretentious as well — these two seem to even think alike!

Robert Pattinson, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber’s night out

-Random: Robert Pattinson, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez all partied at the Marmont Tuesday night before all piling into Bieber‘s minivan(!) and travelling together to David Arquette‘s club opening. That sentence is beyond brain blending…

-Congrats to Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, who are having twins. But was it their True Blood costar who spilled the beans?

-Talk about a rude awakening! Rihanna was evacutaed from her London hotel at 6 a.m. due to an elevator fire.

-I’ve got nothing against having a drink (or four) when flying, but it sounds like Kelly Osbourne might have taken it a bit too far recently.

-Despite reports, it really looks like Charlie Sheen‘s rep is telling the truth when he says the actor didn’t trash his hotel room last weekend.

-No surprise here: Jennifer Aniston‘s friends are denying those engagement rumours.

-Meanwhile, who knew Justin Theroux had all this goin’ on under his shirt? Yowza!

-Celebrity photographer/professional creepy dude Terry Richardson just posted a slew of new portraits of Lindsay Lohan wearing very little, but at least had the good sense to pull down the ones of her posing with a gun.

-Jessica Simpson tweeted a photo of daughter Maxwell yesterday, and it’s pretty damn adorable.

-God bless Channing Tatum, who was somehow convinced to participate in a flash mob dance to “It’s Raining Men” for the Today Show.

-Meanwhile, I’m going to see Magic Mike tonight. It’d be totally wrong to bring a stack of singles to throw at the screen, right? I wanna make it rain!

-Speaking of preview screenings, I saw The Amazing Spider-Man last night. I liked Andrew Garfield just fine in The Social Network and Never Let Me Go, but lemme tell you, halfway through this film, you can actually feel yourself falling for this guy. He’s vulnerable yet tough (even before the spider bite), and oh so awkward. There’s a scene between him and Emma Stone where they’re adorably, clumsily planning a date, and I think the whole theatre was cringing/watching it through their fingers. Expect a lot of dumb plays on the word ‘amazing’ in the reviews, but it really did win me over. Meanwhile, here’s some goofy pics of Andrew playing basketball in NYC, and here is video of him and Emma answering fan questions.

-Ke$ha continues to live up to our very, very low expectations by getting the words “Suck It” tattooed on her inner lip.

-Here are some more photos of Angelina Jolie on the set of Maleficent.

-Matthew Fox looks totally cray in the new Alex Cross trailer.

Photos of Kim Hyun Joong at Today's FC MEN Game

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Dragged Into Immigration Debate

Singer Justin Bieber and actress Selena Gomez were the subject of a “who’s the immigrant and who’s the citizen” pop quiz -- in Congress on Wednesday. Rep. Luis Gutierrez used the couple, among other sets of celebrities, to point out issues with Arizona’s immigration law, reports MSNBC.

The Democrat from Chicago targeted the recently upheld “Show Me Your Papers” law, which requires police officers to ask for proof of citizenship if they have reason to suspect the person is in the US illegally.

"Justin, when you perform in Phoenix, remember to bring your papers," Gutierrez told Bieber, who hails from Canada.

He also paired basketball players Tony Parker and Jeremy Lin and reporters Ted Koppel and Geraldo Rivera. Parker is French, while Koppel is from England.

Ladies who lunch: Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift keep it cute in pastels for girly catch-up in Malibu

Great friends Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift looked sweet in pastels as they went out for a girly lunch in sunny California today.

Selena kept it casual in tight-fitting khaki green trousers and grey suede studded boots, while Taylor went for a retro look in a sleeveless pink shirtdress for their rendezvous at Paradise Cove in Malibu.

The two young superstars laughed and joked as they headed out for a catch-up, 19-year-old Selena looking fresh-faced despite not leaving the Troubadour club until 4am on Tuesday after partying the night away with boyfriend Justin Bieber at Katy Perry's film premiere.

The actress was effortlessly stylish in a loose white T-shirt, as her singer companion wore signature vintage-style accessories including a brown plaited belt, low-heeled yellow sandals, a floral headband and sunglasses.

The girls seemed to be enjoying the time out from their busy schedules, even making time to stop and chat with fans and have their picture taken.

Selena seemed casual and relaxed following her Hollywood night out, the checking her phone as she and Taylor wandered through LA.

Perhaps Selena, 19, was after some career advice from 22-year-old country singer Taylor, who has enjoyed a stratospheric rise after series of country hits.

After concentrating on films over the past two years, Selena is hoping to make a bigger impression with her music.

So far, her biggest hit in the US has been a No 21 single with Who Says last year.

She wore glamorous Katy Perry-style kitsch to the premiere, in homage to the stylish singer, teaming an Emilio Pucci feathered dress with red heart-shaped sunglasses and Jimmy Choo sandals.

The Wizards Of Waverly Place actress shone beside Justin, whose pink jacket complemented her outfit as they arrived at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

She and Justin rarely make red carpet appearances together and even tried to sneak into the premiere of Part Of Me as a duo without being spotted.

While Selena was happy to pose on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere, her boyfriend wasn't so keen.

Miley Cyrus Flashes on First Red Carpet With Liam Hemsworth Post-Engagement

At Wednesday's Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards in Century City, Calif., Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth made their first joint red carpet appearance since announcing their engagement last month.

And 19-year-old Cyrus, naturally, wore yet another eyebrow-raising ensemble: A skintight black mini-dress featuring unmissable cutouts, plus platform shoes, and newly straitened hair.

"It's called Zimmerman," the former Hannah Montana star told reporters. "It's from Australia. I love a little built-in corset, every girl does!"

Cyrus gushed that she was happy to be the supportive wife-to-be that night for honoree Hemsworth, 22. "I just wanted to wear something simple because tonight is all about him . . . "I'm super stoked for him. He's really happy and it's great!"

Although she wouldn't give any details on their future wedding, Cyrus, did explain what drew her to Hemsworth, whom she's been dating on and off for about three years. "I like when men work hard, I think it's important," she explained. "I always work really hard so it's good to have someone who is as passionate about what they do and wants to be great at what they do instead of just being OK. We always strive to have our 130%."

Hemsworth's Australian background doesn't hurt, either. "I think there's a masculinity about [Australian men] that's like growing up in the South, like I did. It's very respectful and they are a little bit more respectful."

Added Hemsworth of their engagement: "We're very, very excited, very happy!"

Avril Lavigne donates musical instruments to kids

Singer Avril Lavigne has donated musical instruments to a children`s hospital in California.

Lavigne went to the Mattel Children`s hospital in Ucla, California, last month and took some musical instruments along with her for the children to learn while they recover, reports contactmusic.com.

The 27-year-old singer and her musician pal Evan Taubenfeld helped teach their young proteges the basics.

Lavigne shared her excitement on Twitter.

"EvanT giving impromptu guitar lesson (at) UclaHealth Mattel Children`s! We just donated instruments 2 them (sic)," she tweeted.

"Thank you EvanT for helping The Avril Foundation donate instruments (at) Ucla Health Mattel Children`s," she added.

Lavigne had earlier visited the facility in April, and had met the kids in the wards and even performed for them.

Angel beats! Anime review

(This review is requested...

Thank you for suggesting it..I enjoyed it..

Sorry, I took some time to review it as I was busy with other things..

Anyway, here comes the review.. hope you like it)

Warning: I dont think its a big deal but I saw blood in some scenes

Type: TV

Episodes: 13

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Mar 22, 2010 to Jun 26, 2010

Producers: Aniplex, Dentsu, Key, P.A. Works, Mainichi Broadcasting, CBC, Movic, Visual Art’s, Sentai FilmworksL, ASCII Media Works

Genres: Action, Comedy, Supernatural

Duration: 24 min. per episode

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

As this review was requested.. I started watching it with out knowing anything about it, not even the story line and it really took me by surprise.

I have to admit that I first started watching Angel Beats because of two main reasons: the pretty visuals, and the presence of guitars. But once I began watching the show in earnest, I found a lot more here than I expected. Angel Beats is a show that keeps me guessing, and consistently tugs at strings I didn't know existed until they were pulled. 

Basically, Angel Beats is about an afterlife in which a group of dead students refuse to 'move on' to the next life, because they have some sort of peace to make with the world and themselves. There's a unique mix of common school life against the supernatural. It's a setting that I found to be original enough; I also expected it to be a simple tear-jerker, but that isn't the case. 

Otonashi awakens only to learn he is dead. A rifle-toting girl named Yuri explains that they are in the afterlife, and Otonashi realizes the only thing he can remember about himself is his name. Yuri tells him that she leads the Shinda Sekai Sensen (Afterlife Battlefront) and wages war against a girl named Tenshi. Unable to believe Yuri's claims that Tenshi is evil, Otonashi attempts to speak with her, but the encounter doesn't go as he intended.

Otonashi decides to join the SSS and battle Tenshi, but he finds himself oddly drawn to her. While trying to regain his memories and understand Tenshi, he gradually unravels the mysteries of the afterlife.

The story is revealed irregularly; some episodes teach you various things about the world, while others spend their time screwing around. I had fun watching those anyway, but I can see how others would think it's a waste of time. 

Angel Beats has a duality about it. One part of it is comedy - most of it is well timed, and on several occasions, had me laughing out loud at my screen like a nutcase. The English-speaking, nonsensical TK doesn't even need an introduction anymore. Even the slapstick comedy is quite well done, and usually timed with unfitting music which (for the most part) heightens the comedy. 

The other part would be the melodrama. Most of the important characters have a back story to them, which are revealed piece by piece. And, as to be expected, many are torturous, depressing tales. These stories aren't your stereotypical 'my puppy died' stories; in fact, I've found that most of the stories that have been revealed are all original in some way or another, and interesting as well. Their common theme seems to be 'regrets' - especially those of teenagers struggling with family, society and life in general. 

The greatest problem that many people make an issue out of is the transition between the two previously mentioned parts of comedy and drama. Sometimes, the parts can seem fragmented and poorly transitioned. But I only noticed this after I heard the criticisms and look for such inappropriateness. I'm a fan of such shows that mix in different types of enjoyment. Angel Beats also isn't a stupid show; I never felt that my emotions were being toyed with in a rudimentary or heavy handed manner. 

What I'm trying to say is that while this may seem contradictory and schizophrenic to some, overall, it seems to be a fairly successful blend to me. I found I actually liked being proven wrong about my guesses as to 'what kind of show this will end up being'. And I know that many scenes will evoke familiar memories from other shows, but really, this show deserves to be considered as it is, by itself. 

Coming to characters, this one's tricky, as many of the characters' back stories are still veiled. Some characters seem to follow the usual anime tropes, but they work. I definitely felt more interested in a character once I learned more about their past. 

The art is beautiful. Beyond what we've come to expect, the animation is amazing (especially for the concerts), and the lighting effects give the show a slightly washed-out, surreal look - which I'm sure was the intended effect. 

Topping it all off and decorating the whole package is a very clean, crisp presentation, and music that can move you from the first time you hear it. The rock concert scenes are some of the finest I've ever seen, with spectacular animation and crisp lighting effects. The music alone made me re-watch the concert episodes over and over. The art is also very pleasant on the eyes, with soft but vibrant colors and simple but effective character styles. 

After having finished this series, I needed to add a short addendum - because it helped me realize the potential problem of this series. In short, it's a little messy. If you watch the final episode, you'll probably come to realize the main theme of the series (the entire first half of the final episode is dedicated to it). But when you do, you start thinking of ways in which certain story elements could have been developed and presented a little better. 

I can't help but compare it to Clannad, a series that expertly manages the drama and the waves of emotion from the viewer. It's almost like the show is psychic, and knows exactly when to say or show something in order to get the maximum emotional impact and reaction. Compared to that, Angel Beats is more than a little awkward; in particular, the final scene - it just didn't hit me as hard as I thought it should. I was affected, but was distracted at the same time by the clumsy dialogue and the sense of too many unexplained factors. 

All in all, I'm very glad I spent time with Angel Beats, and will surely miss its presence. At the same time, it pains me to think of how much better it could have been if the show didn't feel so rushed.

I guess in the end, your enjoyment of Angel Beats will depend on whether its various aspects strike a chord with you or not (pardon the pun). For my part, I'm glad to have found a series that keeps me guessing, interests me with its premise, dazzles my eyes, while making me laugh and sniffle in the same episode. 

This one's definitely worth your attention, at least until you're absolutely sure you don't like everything about it. Check it out. 

Anime opening titles:

Brave movie review

Longtime readers know that I'm a huge fan of the Disney computer animation division known as Pixar. I love their whimsy, their attention to detail, and their ability to pull on my heartstrings. I'll put in a good word for all of their films, from the highly well-regarded "Toy Story" series to the unfairly underpraised "Cars" movies. Pixar has kept up the good work with their latest offering, "Brave".

Set in medieval Scotland, "Brave" tells the story of Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald, in an excellent voice performance), daughter to King Fergus (Billy Connelly, in another excellent voice performance) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson, in a voice performance so excellent I wonder if it can qualify for an Academy Award).

Elinor wants Merida to behave regally, but Merida wants to be free and go on adventures. Merida goes on and on about her distaste for royal life, which irks me because it's such a privileged life. She's never wanting for food or clothing, nor is she treated meanly or forced to labor. She even has two loving parents, and we all know how rare that is for a Disney movie.

Movie trailer:

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted movie review

Starting in Africa, where they were left in the second feature, Alex the Lion (Voiced by Ben Stiller – Tropic Thunder, Zoolander) decides on his birthday that they all need to be home back in New York where they belong. His buddy Marty the Zebra (Voiced by Chris Rock – Death At A Funeral, Grown Ups) seems to convince everyone they need to find the Penguins that abandoned them (with their witty and sarcastic leader Skipper voiced by the film’s director himself Tom McGrath) and use their now super plane to get back to New York.

On their way to Monte Carlo – where the penguins rule at a Casino with the wildly crazy chimps as their buddies - Gloria the Hippo (Voiced by Jedda Pincket Smith – Collateral, The Nutty Professor) and Melman the Giraffe (Voiced by David Schwimmer – Friends, John Carter) fall deeper into their romance with each other.

Enter the villain Captain Chantel Dubois, a mean and sadistic animal police catcher who prides herself by mounting her prey on her wall. Guess what species she is missing – A lion. This was incredibly voiced with such cleverness and French accented flair by the brilliant Francis McDormand (Fargo, Almost Famous). She even sings in French too! She is the reason the whole gang join the Circus – by accident. 

Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, The Dictator) is back as Julian as well as Andy Richter (Late Night With Conan) as Mort and even Cedric The Entertainer (Ice Age 2, Intolerable Cruelty) is back as Maurice. But with some great new and extremely funny charters created by Martin Short (Father of the Bride, How I Met Your Mother) as the incredible self-deprecating Seal Stefano and Bryan Cranston (Drive, Little Miss Sunshine) as the prickly Russian Tiger Vitaly, everyone plays their part learning what a circus team can really do and how friendships are important.

Directors Eric Darnell (Antz, Madagascar 1 & 2 – who also co-wrote this one), Tom McGrath (Megamind, Madagascar 1 & 2) and Conrad Vernon (Monsters Vs Aliens, Shrek 2) along with co-writer Noah Baumbach (Greenberg, Fantstic Mr. Fox) spent some time on relationships – a little too much in the middle – but paid it all off with a fast paced, fun and touching ending! Hans Zimmer (The Lion King) score is as always fanciful for this type of project.

The climax is fun – very colorful – and this was one of the better films that used the 3-D to its fullest advantage. Heartwarming is the ending, toe-tapping is the music, neon colors for the eyes and laughter is the ending. So, put on your ‘rainbow wig’ and see this Animated film first.

Movie trailer :

Robert Pattinson engaged to Kristen Stewart?

Twilight star Robert Pattinson has reportedly proposed his girlfriend Kristen Stewart with an emerald ring. The 26-year-old actor is said to have splashed the cash on a "beautiful emerald ring" for Stewart and the couple are planning to wed later this year, reported 

"It's a beautiful emerald ring. He's a real romantic and loves to take an opportunity to remind her that she's the one. He gave her a ring because he adores her and wants to marry her," a source said.

"They want their wedding to be authentic, with soul. It's important for him that music be a big part of the wedding. He's writing a song for her and plans to perform it on the vintage Fender guitar she bought him for Christmas last year," the source added.