Configured Book Trailer Reveal and Giveaway

Configured
Jenetta Penner
(Book #1 in the Configured Trilogy)
Publication date: October 20th 2016
Genres: Sci-Fi/Dystopian, Young Adult

“In the future, love will make you a traitor.

120 years after a virus decimated earth’s population the survivors thrive in safety, away from the death and destruction of the Outerbounds. But there is a price. Divided into three levels of intellect, Citizens focus solely on duty. Emotions are pointless, even dangerous.

Due to her advanced intelligence, seventeen-year-old computer genius, Avlyn Lark is separated from her twin brother at birth and raised by adoptive parents. She gains privilege, the ideal future. He dies. Avlyn barely knew him yet he remains bound to her memory. Continue reading “Configured Book Trailer Reveal and Giveaway”

Cynthia Bujnicki17/10/201612/10/20161 Comment

Movie Reviews

Hilariously Good | Review of ‘Ghostbusters’ (2016 Film)

By Cynthia Ayala

Ghostbusters starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones & Chris Hemsworth
Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: ScreenRant

Following a ghost invasion of Manhattan, paranormal enthusiasts Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and subway worker Patty Tolan band together to stop the otherworldly threat.

—IMDB

Now I know that there has been so much stupid controversy over this film but let me just say this: all of that is utterly stupid. I’ve seen the original, I love the original, and to be quite frank, while this movie may be a reboot with an all-female cast, it’s hilarious. These women are funny, they have the right chemistry with one another and they bring their own creativity to this film. These actresses are not trying to be the original cast, while their parts may mirror the original cast, they bring something new to the characters, something new to the Ghostbusters franchise. Even Chris Hemsworth‘s character is different than the original Annie Potts character from the original. They are very different because the actors are being themselves, they are bringing their own unique hilarity to the film rather than rehash what was already done spectacularly, and in my book, that’s awesome.
Continue reading “Hilariously Good | Review of ‘Ghostbusters’ (2016 Film)”

Cynthia Bujnicki30/08/201624/08/2016Leave a comment

Movie Reviews

Star Trek Has Found Its Way Back | Review of Star Trek Beyond

By Cynthia Ayala

Star Trek Beyond Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba & Sofia Boutella
Paramount Pictures
Image Credit: Screenrant

“The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.”

—IMDB

This movie made me so happy. After Into Darkness I was apprehensive about the Star Trek franchise because Into Darkness lost its way in trying to appeal to both Trekkies and the mass market. It tried too hard to be one classic (The Wrath of Khan) that it ended up being another classic (The Undiscovered Country) but with less of the heart that would have appealed to Star Trek fans because it just missed the mark, it missed the intent of Gene Roddenberry‘s work. Moreover, with this film, when I heard that they were doing reshoots after it initially wrapped up, which usually almost always spells out doom for a movie. However, you wouldn’t know it watching this film, because whatever they had to go and fix, they nailed it, and they brought back what Gene Roddenberry intended, they brought back hope, they brought back peace, and unity, and everything else that Gene Roddenberry intended when he first created Star Trek.
Continue reading “Star Trek Has Found Its Way Back | Review of Star Trek Beyond”

Cynthia Bujnicki28/07/201625/07/2016Leave a comment

Movie Reviews

A Little Too Cartoonish | Review of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows’

By Cynthia Ayala

As Shredder joins forces with mad scientist Baxter Stockman and henchmen Bebop and Rocksteady to take over the world, the Turtles must confront an even greater nemesis: the notorious Krang.

—IMDB

The sequel to the 2014 film starring Megan Fox and the great ninja turtles, this film is more cartoonish than the previous film and submerges the film in a lot of action but not very much martial arts. Now, that is not to say that this is a bad film because it is full of tons of laughs and clever dialogue, but the biggest flaw of the film was the addition of three major villains alongside Shredder. It was just too much for the film and detracted from the storyline as a whole. Continue reading “A Little Too Cartoonish | Review of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows’”

Cynthia Bujnicki09/06/201608/06/2016Leave a comment

Movie Reviews

An Exciting Action Packed Film | Review of ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’

By Cynthia Ayala

X-Men: Apocalypse starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Oscar Isaac
20th Century Fox
Image Credit: Fandango

When an ancient mutant with tremendous powers awakens from a deep sleep to find the humans have taken over, he vows, with his four horsemen—Magneto, Storm, Psylocke, and Angel—to reshape the world and bring everyone—humans and mutants—to their knees.

X-Men: Apocalypse is the third film in the prequel X-Men franchise that has a stunning cast, amazing special effects, and a story worth viewing.
Continue reading “An Exciting Action Packed Film | Review of ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’”

Cynthia Bujnicki31/05/201601/06/2016Leave a comment

Movie Reviews

Marvel’s Best Movie Yet | Review of ‘Captain America: Civil War’

By Cynthia Ayala

Captain America: Civil War starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan & Chadwick Boseman
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Image Credit: IMDB

Political interference in the Avengers’ activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man.

—IMDB

This film is without a doubt Marvel’s best film yet. First, let’s applaud the writers here because they took a story and adapted it as best as they could to tie it into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and they were able to do that without tarnishing the story. That right there is fantastic writing. That is spectacular writing and something Warner Bros. and DC could take a page from. This is one of the reason’s Marvel movies are so popular because they bring to life a story and characters while keeping both of those faithful to the original creation. Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. were perfect for their roles. Everyone was perfect for their roles. This is cast who not only understands their characters, but they also understand the character dynamics not just in the story but also regarding each other, and they are friends. Everyone here is friends with someone else, and it is believable not just because they are friends in real like but also because they have such great chemistry with one another.The foundation of the film is solid, and that is the key to a successful movie.
Continue reading “Marvel’s Best Movie Yet | Review of ‘Captain America: Civil War’”

Cynthia Bujnicki12/05/2016Leave a comment

Book Reviews

A First Person Win | Review of ‘Shifters’ (Shifters #1)

By Cynthia Ayala

Shifters by Douglas and Angela Pershing
Pershing Books
Image Credit: Goodreads

Brother and sister, Tanner and Ryland have not only discovered that they are adopted, that have discovered that they aren’t even from Earth. They are Shifters, rescued by Ordinaries forced off their planet by savage laws and brutal dictatorship of their rulers. Now on Earth, Tanner and Ryland’s lives are in danger not only by a sec of the government called Keepers, but also from Shifters who are trying to keep a prophecy from coming true.

Published on August 1, 2013 by Pershing Books, Shifters is the first novel in the young adult sci-fi Shifters series by father and daughter Douglas and Angela Pershing.
Continue reading “A First Person Win | Review of ‘Shifters’ (Shifters #1)”

Cynthia Bujnicki31/03/201628/03/2016Leave a comment

Movie Reviews

Somewhat Original Yet Mediocre | Review of ‘The 5th Wave’ (Film)

By Cynthia Ayala

'The 5th Wave' starring : Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson & Liev Schreiber Columbia Pictures Image Credit: The Cocoa Journal — ‘The 5th Wave’ starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson & Liev Schreiber
Columbia Pictures
Image Credit: The Cocoa Journal

The human race stands on the brink of extinction as a series of alien attacks decimate the planet, causing earthquakes, tsunamis, and disease. Separated from her family, Ohio teenager Cassie Sullivan will do whatever it takes to reunite with her brother Sam. Fate leads her to form an alliance with Evan Walker, a mysterious young man who may be her last hope. Forced to trust each other, Cassie and Evan fight for survival during the fifth assault from the invaders.

—Google Continue reading “Somewhat Original Yet Mediocre | Review of ‘The 5th Wave’ (Film)”

Cynthia Bujnicki11/02/201607/02/2016Leave a comment