Woman Tribune » Entertainment

The It Gets Better Project is Headed to MTV and Logo

Holly — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:20:24 +0000

The It Gets Better Project was created by syndicated columnist, author, and LGBT activist Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller in September 2010 as an inspirational response to anti-gay bullying and the hike in (publicized) LGBT teen suicides. Since then, more than 30,000 touching and motivational videos have been created by countless celebrities, public figures, and regular people like you and me with one resounding message to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teens who are being bullied and facing discrimination, intolerance, and hate today: It Gets Better.

This project has achieved amazing success; by just the end of 2010, it raised over $100,000 from $2,500+ grassroots contributors that has gone to increase support and resources available to teenagers in the LGBT community through the project’s affiliation with the Trevor Project suicide hotline, GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), and the ACLU LGBT Project. By the end of this month, the It Gets Better Project will reach an even wider audience with the premiere of the It Gets Better special that will air on both MTV and Logo on Tuesday, February 21st at 11:00 p.m. ET.

The 60-minute special will be anchored by Dan Savage and will follow the lives of three young people at pivotal and emotional moments in their lives: a young man struggling to tell his family and friends that he is gay; a lesbian fighting for parental acceptance; and a transgender man preparing to get married. In additional to these stories, the special will also include video messages full of hope and support from very well-known people, including Adam Levine, Zachary Quinto, Margaret Cho, Chaz Bono, Tim Mcllarth and Brandon Barnes of Rise Against, Vinny Guadagnino, Dave Holmes, Sia and Jake Shears.

Check out the following clip from the It Gets Better special featuring Vanessa who is talking to her mother about her personal fight for acceptance:

This project came at a very crucial moment in time and this special is also very much needed in our society. Simply put, kids are dying. Every day, LGBT youth are being bullied by their peers as well as by adults and authority figures in their communities. They are paying attention to the 2012 political race to the White House and hearing from politicians that everything they are is what is wrong with society. They are being discriminated against, told that they are less-than, rejected and ostracized by their own families, and being cast out for no other reason than being who they are. The statistics are tragic: 9 out of 10 LGBT students have experienced harassment at school; LGBT teens are bullied 2 to 3 times as much as straight teens; LGBT youth with “highly rejecting” families are 8 times more likely to attempt suicide than those whose families accept them; more than 1/3 of LGBT youth have attempted suicide.

Kids are dying and the most important thing that we can do, that anyone can do, is accept everyone for who they are because that is enough.

When speaking about the It Gets Better special, Dan Savage said:

“The lives of these three young people will resonate with millions of teens–gay and straight–who are being bullied for simply being themselves. It’s so important they know that things get better and that living openly and honestly and being who you are makes it better. They have so many great moments ahead of them and they will do things they never thought possible–so long as they keep fighting, stay positive, and stay with us.”

The It Gets Better special is the second Dan Savage-centric announcement to come from MTV as of late; he will also be seen this spring in Savage U with Lauren Hutchinson, a show that will follow the duo as they travel to college campuses across the country offering a crash course to students on relationships, responsibility, sex, love, and life.

First Look at Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin and Ed Harris as John McCain in “Game Change” Trailer [Video]

Holly — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:56 +0000

We first heard about Julianne Moore portraying Sarah Palin in the HBO film Game Change nearly a year ago. Sarah Palin could only muster up sarcasm when talking about the movie, which isn’t surprising considering that it is an adaptation of Mark Halperin and John Heilemann’s 2008 presidential election tell-all book that portrays Palin in a terrible and uninformed light.

A year later, and the film’s cast has only grown more impressive. Ed Harris plays an exhausted John McCain whose own campaign ran away without him once Sarah Palin was introduced to the American public, and Woody Harrelson plays adviser Steve Schmidt who tried to cover up Palin’s inexperience, limited scope of foreign policy knowledge, and incompetence by banking on her charisma to carry her through the campaign.

Check out the following trailer for Game Change; the film premieres on March 10th at 9 p.m. on HBO.

Acura Super Bowl Commercial: Jerry Seinfeld vs. Jay Leno for the First NSX [Video]

Holly — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:04 +0000

The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and if you’re like me, you just may tune in for the commercials alone. This is the only time when commercials are not just welcome, but anticipated, so why wait to see what is sure to be one of the hottest ad spots this year during the big game? We just saw Acura’s newest commercial that will air during the Super Bowl and couldn’t wait to share it with you.

High-end sports car aficionados Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno star in this spot for Acura where they are pitted against each other, competing to be the very first person in the world to have the yet-to-be-released Acura NSX. The commercial is hilarious and also features one of the most beloved characters from the show Seinfeld, the Soup Nazi.

The Joy of Books [Video]

Holly — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:14:56 +0000

Books have always been extraordinary and magical to me. When I start reading a new book, I see it as an invitation to experience someone else’s life while letting any stress in my life fade away, even for just a little while. We are allowed into the heads of characters in books; we have the opportunity to learn what makes them tick and what their weaknesses are. We get to see life through their eyes and then take the wisdom they leave us with and apply it to our own realities. It’s really astounding.

Sean Ohlenkamp’s absolutely remarkable video The Joy of Books shows just how magical books can be, in a more physical sense, by crafting some amazing stop motion animation and seamless editing.

According to the video description, the creation of this video was made possible with the help of nearly 30 volunteers who spent many sleepless nights moving, stacking, and animating books at Type bookstore in Toronto. The music in the video was composed by Grayson Matthews and is available on iTunes.

This Little Girl Kicks Your Ass on Guitar [Video]

Holly — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:02:26 +0000

So, you have a craft that you have been honing for years. You’re passionate about it, it fulfills you, and how it makes you feel is what has kept you going through the years, continuing your work and not giving up in the face of the incredible struggles you have had with it. Then a little kid comes around and completely puts any work you could ever produce to shame. Ever happen to you? Well, if you’re a guitar player, meet Zoe Thomson.

Zoe is 8 years old and she is an incredible guitar player–and not just for being 8 years old, either. She has incredible talent, surpassing the skill level of people who have been playing the instrument longer than she has been alive.

You can also see Zoe in The Mini Band, a band made up of kids ages 8 to 10 who are all taught at Lets Play Rock in the UK.

Angelina Jolie Live Q&A and “In the Land of Blood and Honey” Limited Edition Poster Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:20:08 +0000

Everyone knows Angelina Jolie the Oscar-winning actress, mega celebrity, and international activist, but with the release of the new film In the Land of Blood and Honey, Jolie can add writer and director to her resume. To celebrate this accomplishment and promote the release of her film, Angelina Jolie will be readily available to fans everywhere on January 12th as she conducts a live Q&A where you will have the opportunity to ask the actress your burning questions and receive an answer live!

The application below features a countdown to the January 12th Q&A, as well as the official theatrical trailer, behind the scenes footage, and you can even purchase tickets to see the film, which is currently playing in select cities.

“In the Land of Blood and Honey” has been nominated for a Golden Globe. The film tells the story of Danijel (Goran Kosti?) and Ajla (Zana Marjanovi?), two Bosnians from different sides of a brutal ethnic conflict. Danijel, a Bosnian Serb police officer, and Ajla, a Bosnian Muslim artist, are together before the war, but their relationship is changed as violence engulfs the country. Months later, Danijel is serving under his father, General Nebojsa Vukojevich (Rade Šerbedžija), as an officer in the Bosnian Serb Army. He and Ajla come face to face again when she is taken from the apartment she shares with her sister, Lejla (Vanesa Glodjo), and Lejla’s infant child by troops under Danijel’s command.

As the conflict takes hold of their lives, their relationship changes, their motives and connection to one another become ambiguous and their allegiances grow uncertain. “In the Land of Blood and Honey” portrays the incredible emotional, moral and physical toll that the war takes on individuals as well as the consequences that stem from the lack of political will to intervene in a society stricken with conflict.

Giveaway

Do you have a question you’re dying to ask Angelina Jolie? Leave it in the comments on this post and you could also win a In the Land of Blood and Honey limited edition poster.

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This giveaway was made possible thanks to PartnersHub.

What’s Making Me Happy: Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt Singing “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” [Video]

Holly — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:55:36 +0000

I am a big fan of Zooey Deschanel. She is so cute and quirky it is almost unbearable, and I have enjoyed the oddball characters she has played in both television and movies. It is because of her that I sat through the miserable disappointment that was The Happening and was also the reason why I was even remotely interested in seeing Our Idiot Brother, which was mildly amusing. I’m sure I would have enjoyed that particular movie a lot less if I didn’t go see it two days after Hurricane Irene hit Northeastern Pennsylvania (among many other areas). Our power was still out and I couldn’t stand to sit and stare at the wall for even another minute.

And then there was (500) Days of Summer in 2009 which also starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt; another incredibly adorable person and a damn fine actor to boot. Turns out these two have been friends for over a decade, and suddenly the unmistakable chemistry we saw in (500) Days of Summer makes total sense. You can also see it in this video they recently made of them performing a duet of “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” on the ukulele and guitar.

So how about you, what are you doing New Year’s Eve?

Book Giveaway: Win a Signed Copy of “All About Vee” by C. Leigh Purtill [Closed]

Holly — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:37:06 +0000

I first read All About Vee by C. Leigh Purtill back in 2008. It arrived just before the beginning of summer and I picked it up expecting a light, girly read I would breeze through in just a few, short days, and then promptly forget most of the details within right after writing the review. My first impression of this book, the brightly-colored cover and teenagers holding hands with huge smiles plastered on their faces, pointed to precisely this series of events. When you have read and reviewed as many young adult books as I have over the years, you learn that you can indeed judge most books by their covers and know what to expect from them. The key word here is ‘most.’ But this particular book turned out to be so much more than that.

Veronica May is the main character in All About Vee. She is a kind and caring young woman and friend, she is outgoing and confident, and she is a gifted actress who travels from the small town in Arizona she grew up in with her father to Los Angeles, California to become a successful actress. Veronica is optimistic about her move to LA and the career she has plans of launching there, but she soon learns that in LA, the talent you have in your chosen profession matters less than how thin and attractive you are. And Veronica is a plus-size young woman of 217 pounds.

As C. Leigh Purtill recently wrote in an article we republished a few weeks ago, Veronica May’s self-confidence wasn’t just tested by the people she came into contact with in the book, she is in fact still being discriminated against because of her size by a number of people who have read this book since it was published in 2008. Veronica doesn’t suddenly get to LA, realize she’s “fat”, and then go on a crash diet or start popping diet pills and working out six hours a day, seven days a week with hopes of turning her body into a size 0 so the powers that be within the entertainment industry finally give her the time of day and a job. She doesn’t give up on her dreams or on herself by considering herself “less-than” because other people tried to make her feel that way.

Veronica struggles throughout All About Vee, but because she doesn’t struggle in the ways a lot of people expect her to or how a lot of people think plus-size women should struggle, a lot of contempt has been placed on the shoulders of Veronica May. But in all of the ways people have disliked her character, those are precisely the reasons why I have loved her and why she has stuck with me throughout the years.

Giveaway

It is for all of these reasons why I am super excited to have been given the opportunity to give away a signed copy of All About Vee to one lucky Woman Tribune reader.

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“All About Vee” has been recently re-released as the first installment in C. Leigh Purtill’s new series, “Fat Girls in LA.” The ebook is currently available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Hoarding Clean Up: Leave It to the Professionals

Holly — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:14:39 +0000

I used to have a particularly negative attitude towards documentary/reality television shows documenting a person’s struggle with a mental illness, an attribute that sets them apart from the society-accepted version of “normal,” or the challenge to change themselves in the face of discrimination. In my estimation, these shows, while they did strive to reveal a supposedly honest depiction of living with conditions such as substance abuse issues, obesity, and particular phobias, they were doing very little else but exploiting the subjects that were plucked from obscurity and put on the television screens of millions of homes nationwide. I saw the benefit of these shows in the sense that they bring a certain level of success to the television networks who produce and air them, and for the viewers who typically see quality entertainment value in the distress of the others.

While I certainly have some questionable taste in trashy reality television myself (Keeping Up with the Kardashians, anyone?), I wanted nothing to do with shows like Heavy, Addicted, Celebrity Rehab, and so on. That is, until I started watching the A&E show Intervention on a whim. This particular subject matter interested me because when I was growing up, my mother was an alcoholic and drug addict. She may still be, but she has not been in my life in any capacity whatsoever since I was about 10 years old. In some feeble attempt to make sense of my entire childhood within the course of seasons upon seasons of 44-minute episodes, I started with this show. I branched out to others over time, and more focusing on other subjects as I noticed articles popping up on blogs and websites I frequently read where the authors used these shows as catalysts to share their own stories, knowing that much of their audience had seen these shows and would know the basis of the issues they were discussing.

One topic that has come up quite a bit throughout the past few years is hoarding. The shows Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive have continued to gain more popularity; because of this success it’s safe to say that while it is still technically “taboo” subject matter, these shows have instilled knowledge of what hoarding is along with how and why it happens into the people who have seen an episode or two. This has given people who hoard just a little more confidence in reaching out to others and sharing stories of their own struggles with this compulsive behavior.

Television shows on the subject of hoarding always provide the people who are the subject of an episode with a therapist to battle their obsessive compulsive behavior, which they always end up needing because with being on an episode of one of these shows comes the often traumatic cleanup process. Hoarding clean up is extremely risky to do without the help of professionals because often in spaces that are affected by hoardings, there is buildup of dust, mold, mildew, trash, expired food, rodent and animal droppings and infestations, and sometimes even live or dead animals who have also inhabited the same spaces. These spaces have become uninhabitable by the time these cleanup crews get to the house of someone who hoards, and by that time the disorder has become as unmanageable as their space for the person affected by a compulsion that they cannot cease on their own. The risk to one’s safety and health when cleaning out a space that has been inhabited by a person who hoards for in almost every instance, a prolonged period of time is quite high. Paths and exits become blocked and human interaction with expired food items, airborne contaminants that rise after moving items that haven’t been moved in years, and on a more severe level, animal dander, excrement, and in some cases, carcasses are very likely to get people sick.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is transmitted by infected rodents and their urine, droppings, and saliva. It can be passed to humans who breathe in the virus and even more frightening, it is a disease that has no specific treatment or cure. This is a major reason as to why if you are cleaning out a space where someone who hoards has lived, or if you have any cleanup job that contains biochemicals or hazardous waste of any kind, that you must contact a professional service to help. Cleaning up a serious mess on your own may save you a few bucks, but it isn’t nearly worth the risks you would be putting your health in.

Photo by Dragonarium

“Who does that fat girl think she is?”

Guest Contributor — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:00:09 +0000

This post originally appeared on C. Leigh Purtill’s personal blog. Republished with permission.

That’s the strange comment I’ve read on some reviews of my novel, All About Vee. Perhaps not quite as harsh but certainly I’ve read comments that express that sentiment.

Why? I always wonder. Why would a reader be upset that my mc, Veronica May, a plus-size actress struggling in Hollywood, has confidence in herself? Plenty of other characters in other books know they are good at something, whether it’s acting or painting or sports. So what’s the difference between them and Veronica?

Her size.

There’s an attitude among a lot of people that overweight women shouldn’t be happy with themselves. They should want to look thinner. They should not like who they are. They should feel inferior to others. Many readers who pick up Vee expect that Veronica will be sad or have low self-esteem and that, over the course of the book, she will learn to love her body the way it is (or change it and then be happy and get the guy!). They don’t expect that the problems she has in the book are ones that other people impose upon her.

I’ve often told readers how I came up with my story about Veronica and her friends, Val and Ginny, the original 800 page book that was called Fat Girls in LA. I had been walking on my lunch hour in Beverly Hills and saw a lovely young woman waiting to cross the street. The neighborhood was filled with agencies for film and TV and this girl was overweight. I wondered if she was an actress looking for an agent – or maybe she was a model or a writer. I thought about who she might be, where she might have come from.

And I thought about being a fat girl in LA. You can never be too thin in this town, no matter what your profession. Even if you’re a writer and you’re attractive and thin, they can promote you better than if you’re not. Everyone, it seems, wants to be thin here. But what if you came from a town where no one cared? What if you were really good at what you did but you also happened to be overweight? Why should that matter?

Behold, the Vees were born. Three plus-size gals from Arizona who were best friends and who wanted to make their lives more exciting so they moved to Hollywood. Veronica was the actress and she got all the best roles in her small town – why shouldn’t she be positive about her talent? Why shouldn’t she assume she could get roles here in LA? Ginny was the writer and Val was the model. They all suffered discrimination here. Their friendship was tested. Their self-confidence was challenged.

I think a lot of readers who have problems with Veronica’s positive self-esteem have struggled with it themselves. They may want her to feel as they do and are disappointed that she likes herself the way she is. They may have had people in their lives tell them they need to lose weight in order to be hired – or loved. Make no mistake: Vee does not think she’s the best at everything, that she’s beautiful, that she should get every guy she meets. That’s the assumption readers place on her just because she’s a good actress. She struggles too. She just doesn’t struggle with what you expect her to.

She’s just like you.

“All About Vee” has been recently re-released as the first installment in C. Leigh Purtill’s new series, “Fat Girls in LA.” The ebook is currently available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You can also check out our full review of “All About Vee” here.

Twilight “Breaking Dawn” Celebration Package Giveaway at Fangs for the Fantasy

Holly — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:00:43 +0000

My good friend Renee co-runs a pretty awesome urban fantasy blog that anyone who loves the genre has no reason not to check out. Fangs for the Fantasy explores urban fantasy books, movies, television shows, and news and critiques them from a social justice perspective. Because of the strong social justice background of both of the writers of this blog, Renee who is well-known for her blog Womanist Musings and Sparky of Spark in Darkness, this site makes for a really great and well-rounded read, rather than just one review after another boasting a glowing recommendation without the usual refusal to confess the problematic elements of it that we’ve all seen in most other reviews out there.

If you happen to be a Twilight fan, Fangs for the Fantasy has a great giveaway going on where you can enter to win a Twilight Breaking Dawn Celebration Package. Included in the package (pictured above) is a Robert Pattinson watch, Breaking Dawn 2012 calendar, and tote bag.

The giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the U.S. and ends November 30, 2011.

Because this giveaway is not happening here I have disabled comments on this post. Head over to Fangs for the Fantasy to enter to win the Twilight Breaking Dawn Celebration Package.

10 Best Movies for Nerds and Those Who Love Them

Guest Contributor — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:20:00 +0000

This is a guest post by Online Degree Blog, your guide to over 450 online degree programs.

There are some movies that seem to be made especially for the nerd community. Even though there are hundreds of types of nerds, divided by areas of interest and social tendencies, these films just seem to speak to geeks across the board. They feature relatable characters in situations most nerds find themselves in or wish they could stumble into. If you’re a self-proclaimed nerd and haven’t seen one of the movies on this list, you should check it out. If you’re trying to woo a nerd, it wouldn’t hurt to have a couple of these movies on your DVD rack when your date comes over. You’ll definitely earn some brownie points.

Shaun of the Dead

Many nerds either love zombies, British humor, or British humor making fun of zombies. This film will satisfy any of those categories. Shaun, a guy who’s struggling with all the relationships in life, finds himself in the middle of an uprising of the undead and tries to save himself and his loved ones. Of course, that sounds like the plot of most zombie flicks, but this one takes you through a story with a care-free, comical air that you won’t find in just any movie. Hot Fuzz, which is from the same creators, will give you the same kind of laughs, but it’s not quite on the same hilarious level as Shaun of the Dead.

WarGames

This film is nostalgic for any ’80s-era nerds or those who like to remember the good old days of computers. Matthew Broderick stars as a hacker who accidentally breaks into a military supercomputer during the Cold War. The computer’s purpose is to run through the possible outcomes of a nuclear war, and when Broderick’s character simulates one thinking he’s playing a game, world war nearly breaks out. Not only does Broderick play an excellent nerd, but the idea that one witty computer genius could change the entire world is enough to make any geek proud.

Rushmore

Wes Anderson’s films have a special place in the hearts of those with big brains and a few neuroses. Rushmore plays on the interests of a wide range of overachievers as it focuses on the exploits of one strange student of Rushmore Academy. Max Fischer is the face of every kid that’s smart but doesn’t care about his grades. Instead of focusing on his academics, he joins club after club to find what he’s really interested in, from the fencing team to stamp collecting club to yearbook staff, because he believes that finding the one thing you really love is what will make you happy. And he’s actually already found his true love: his school. Now if that’s not something a nerd can relate to, nothing is.

Pi

If you’ve ever known an extreme math or science nerd, they probably liked Pi. Not just the number, but the movie. From the strange mind of Darren Aronofsky, Pi deals with an obsessed mathematician (are there any other kind?) who thinks the whole world can be explained in numbers. When he stumbles onto a number that seems to explain everything, from the stock market to religion, he gets into all kinds of trouble and cracks under the pressure. It may serve as a warning for other single-minded nerds out there, or might make them more eager to analyze the strings of digits they find and use them to explain the universe.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Don’t watch this movie with a nerd if you’re not prepared for a full-blown quote-along. Every scene contains at least a few ridiculous, well-known lines that you’ll remember long after the movie is over. It was made by the British comedy troupe, Monty Python, and loosely (very loosely) follows the legends of King Arthur and his knights. Some of the high points of this film are the Knights Who Say Ni, the killer rabbit, and the Black Knight who continues to fight even after all of his limbs have been cut off. British movies are so unlike those produced by Hollywood that may of them find an eager audience in the U.S. who prefer dry or absurdist humor over corny romantic comedies.

Weird Science

Anthony Michael Hall was a role model for all geeks growing up in the ’80s. He always had a way of showing us that nerds could be kind of cool and that there was more to life than getting shoved into lockers. In this John Hughes film, Hall plays a kid who creates the perfect woman with his friend using his computer. How many of you tried to figure out how to do the same thing after seeing this movie? Their Frankenstein woman can given them anything they want, and she not only gives them her undying devotion, but also sports cars, popularity, and girlfriends. The movie may be a bit campy, but it depicts the ultimate dream scenario for the 14-year-old boy in all of us.

Almost Famous

When you watch Almost Famous, there are two things you want to do: sing loudly to “Tiny Dancer” and get as close to rock stars as any nerd can by writing for Rolling Stone. The film is based on the adventures of director Cameron Crowe as a teenage writer for the music magazine, and the main character finds himself on the road with a rock band and its groupies. Not only does the dorky 15-year-old manage to get some loving from the hot ladies who hang around musicians, but he also ends up with a cover story for Rolling Stone. Any music or writing nerd loves to live vicariously through the rock ‘n’ roll exploits in this movie.

2001: A Space Odyssey

This film speaks to several different categories of nerd: sci-fi nerd, technology nerd, special effects nerd, etc. Stanley Kubrick’s imagined future (which thankfully didn’t turn into reality by 2001) shows humans exploring serious mysteries of the universe, battling a supercomputer, and becoming strange space beings. Most of us are fascinated by the idea of HAL 9000, the computer who realizes that the astronauts are planning to turn him off and tries to kill them all as a means of self-preservation. This kind of evil artificial intelligence is a popular theme in some of the best nerd movies.

Annie Hall

If there was an election for the ruler of all nerds, Woody Allen would certainly be in the running. His films introduce us to all of his neroses and pet peeves, and you really feel like you’re in the head and the life of this guy. Most viewers can either relate to Allen or feel a little bit normal in comparison, which is never a bad thing. Allen’s comedic musings on love and relationships in Annie Hall are the nerd’s alternative to romantic comedies and also might provide some useful insight for real-life dating scenarios.

Brazil

Terry Gilliam is a legendary director among the super-nerdy crews. He directed The Fisher King and 12 Monkeys, but Brazil has a special cult following. It’s part sci-fi and part satire in its portrayal of a dystopian society that relies on silly machines and involves too much bureaucratic nonsense. As a member of the comic troupe, Monty Python, Gilliam knows how to find the dark humor in a situation, even one where the wrong man has been killed because of a mechanical malfunction that caused a minor typo. Anyone who enjoys critically thinking about society and government, and likes jokes that involve the two will love this movie.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ DVD Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:52:30 +0000

Since the publication of the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, in 1998 (U.S.), J.K. Rowling’s tales of the adventures of a young wizard and his two best friends have been entertaining millions of people of all ages. No doubt boosting the substantial and impressive popularity of Harry Potter were the movies that came not long after. In fact, Harry Potter is the highest grossing film series of all time.

I think the reason why Harry Potter has done so well is due very much in part with the fact that the series lasted a substantial amount of years. I was in the fifth grade in 1998 and by the time I was in middle school, entire friendships had been fostered through the mutual fondness of the first Harry Potter book. Today, I am 25 years old and while I may have hopped off of the Harry Potter bandwagon not long after I had hopped on, this series has not just an undoubtedly loyal fan base, but also the unique ability to bring people who are separated by generations together.

Ten years after the first Harry Potter movie was released, we have reached the end of an era. On November 11, 2011, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released on DVD, bringing the entire series–in both book and movie form–to an end.

The final face-off between good and evil is finally upon us as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ is released on DVD, just in time for the holidays! Join Harry, Ron and Hermione as they do battle against Voldemort in the epic conclusion to the film series everyone is talking about!

Giveaway

If you haven’t yet picked up your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and are looking for the perfect holiday gift for your Harry Potter-obsessed loved one (or yourself!) you’re in luck because we’re giving away a copy of the DVD to one lucky Woman Tribune reader.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is currently available on DVD at retail stores nationwide and is also available on Amazon.

This giveaway was made possible thanks to PartnersHub.

“Winnie the Pooh” DVD and Blu-Ray Combo Pack Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:03:38 +0000

Winnie the Pooh is an amazing classic. When you enjoy a story enough as a child, it grows with you. Attached to it are timeless memories that you can look back on fondly throughout your life, and that is a great thing. Still enjoying that same thing as an adult, while also developing a new appreciation for it as you have gotten older, and realizing that the stories you loved as a child also hold a great deal of wisdom for you as an adult is what defines a true classic. Winnie the Pooh is exactly that; it is timeless and the values it teaches are important to remember regardless of how old you are.

This past summer audiences returned to the Hundred Acre Wood for the latest adventure featuring the world’s beloved bear with the new Walt Disney Pictures Winnie the Pooh movie inspired by five stories from A.A. Milne’s original books.

With the charm, wit and whimsy of the original featurettes, this all-new movie reunites audiences with the philosophical “bear of very little brain” and friends Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo–and last, but certainly not least, Eeyore, who has lost his tail. “Well a tail is either there or it isn’t there,” said Pooh. “And yours isn’t…there.” Owl sends the whole gang on a wild quest to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit. It turns out to be a very busy day for a bear who simply set out to find some hunny.

Giveaway

The new Winnie the Pooh movie was released on DVD and Blu-Ray October 25th. To celebrate its arrival, we are giving away a Winnie the Pooh DVD and Blu-Ray Combo Pack!

Winnie the Pooh is currently available on DVD and Blu-Ray at retail stores nationwide and is also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible thanks to PartnersHub.

None yet, check back soon!

“The Dog Who Saved Halloween” DVD Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:38:24 +0000

After the success of ABC Family’s original movies The Dog Who Saved Christmas and its sequel The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation (which we ran a giveaway for in the weeks leading up to last Christmas), a new seasonal feature has been released for Halloween in The Dog Who Saved… series.

Starring (the voices of) Joey Lawrence and Mayim Bialik, The Dog Who Saved Halloween is filled with engaging magic and mystery and is sure to help families get into the spirit of the season of Halloween.

Everyone’s favorite four-legged friend Zeus (voiced by Joey Lawrence) and the Bannisters are back in The Dog Who Saved Halloween, an all-new adventure jam-packed with family-friendly thrills and chills! When George, Belinda and their kids Kara and Ben Bannister move into a new house–just in time for Halloween!–everything seems to be fine…until they notice eerie glowing lights and strange sounds coming from their neighbor’s house where creepy Mr. Cole (Lance Henriksen) lives with his protective pooch Medusa (voiced by Mayim Bialik). When a black cat suddenly goes missing, George Bannister (Gary Valentine) insists on investigating the matter himself–and ultimately enlists an odd yet familiar pair (Dean Cain, Joey Diaz) to help. But after the trio and Belinda Bannister (Elisa Donovan) get trapped inside the spooky house, it’s once again up to Zeus to save the day!

Giveaway

One Woman Tribune reader will win a copy of The Dog Who Saved Halloween on DVD.

The Dog Who Saved Halloween is currently available at retail stores nationwide and is also available on Amazon.

Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible thanks to Grand Communications.

None yet, check back soon!

Melissa McCarthy to Host “Saturday Night Live”, Check Out the Promos [Video]

Holly — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:57:00 +0000

I have not watched an episode of Saturday Night Live in years; not since Tina Fey portrayed Sarah Palin, which I still find totally hilarious. However, this week’s episode will be hosted by Melissa McCarthy and that is pretty much all the reason I need to tune in.

I’m actually pretty surprised and kind of sad that Melissa McCarthy hasn’t hosted an episode of SNL yet. She gained a lot of attention and acknowledgement through Bridesmaids and that would have been a great time to have her on the show. I guess she just had to prove her comedic worth to SNL by winning an Emmy.

I have high hopes for her hosting SNL, especially after watching the promos for the episode which you can check out below:

Photo by Diario El Carabobeño

Emmys 2011: Live Tweeting Nominees, Winners and Thoughts During TV’s Biggest Night

Holly — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:57:47 +0000

Late yesterday afternoon I felt that I might be coming down with a little something; I had a headache I couldn’t get rid of, my limbs felt like they each gained about 30 pounds and I was tired. After a short nap I woke up somewhat refreshed, but also had a nearly-constant runny nose and a sore throat to add to my now-growing list of ailments. Awesome. Fortunately, I did wake up in time to watch the last half hour of the red carpet pre-show at the Emmys and while I didn’t make any super yummy homemade snacks for the actual show like I did for the #Toast2TV Twitter party last week, I still had a great time live tweeting TV’s biggest night!

There were some distinctly notable high points from last night’s Emmy Awards and nearly all of them revolve around the presence of Jane Lynch. I think she is one of the most hilarious female comedians we have on television today and she is in fabulous company with all of the women who were recognized last night. Jane Lynch’s abilities as a comedian and as an actor who is quick on her feet to tailor a joke or line to her personality and how it come off as believable and witty was on full display last night when she delivered a few not-so-funny or even moderately good lines that were written for her with ease.

Overall the Emmys were enjoyable, albeit at times predictable. Kate Winslet won her first Emmy for her role in Mildred Pierce, the award for best competition reality show went to The Amazing Race yet again and for the ninth year in a row, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart took home the award for outstanding variety, music or comedy series. Modern Family was also a huge winner, taking home five Emmys and Mad Men won the award for outstanding drama series.

These are only some the top winners. You can see the full list of last night’s winners here.

Of course, as I mentioned, I also live tweeted the Emmys last night, so here is a list of my (riveting, I know) tweets including nominee and winner announcements and general Emmys-related musings.

Heard Rob Lowe & family on the red carpet and suddenly thought “Robert! You’re supposed to be dead!” #Brothers&Sisters #Emmys

September 18, 2011 6:51 pm via HootSuite ReplyRetweetFavorite

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