Hotel Transylvania 2

Sony

I finally had the chance to see Hotel Transylvania 2 when it came out on Blu-ray  recently. It's  so adorable! I just loved it, maybe even more than the first one. Caution: Spoilers Ahead!

Hotel Transylvania 2 picks up right where the first film left off. Johnny and Mavis get married, and a year later, they're expecting a baby. Their little boy, Dennis (or Denisovitch as Papa Drac calls him), is the spitting image of his dad, from his curly red hair to his lack of vampire fangs. Fearing that Mavis may leave him all alone if her son is only human, Dracula decides to take matters into his own hands and prove that Dennis is a monster after all.

While Mavis and Johnny check out  Johnny's hometown in California (Mavis absolutely adores Slurpees!), Dracula, Murray, Wayne, Griffin, Frank, and Blobby set out to help "late fanger" Dennis become a real vampire. Of course, hilarity ensues as each group tries to find their place in the world.

In the end, this movie was about loving someone for who they are and not what you want them to be. Also, we all have a place where we belong, although it can be hard to see it. Bean and I loved this movie and will probably watch it often. While I loved the movie, if your kids are scared of monsters, you may want to preview Hotel Transylvania 2 before watching it together. Some of the monsters and situations may be a little frightening for small children.

Captain America: Civil War Trailer

Marvel

Marvel released a new Captain America: Civil War teaser trailer just in time for the Super Bowl. It's short, but a great look at who is on each side of the war. It looks like Cap, Bucky Barnes, Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Ant-Man are on one side, while Iron Man, War Machine, Black Widow, Vision, and Black Panther are on the other. Which side are you on?

Captain America: Civil War arrives in theaters on May 6.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Lionsgate

I watched Pride and Prejudice and Zombies yesterday, and was surprised to find that I loved it! I haven't read the book, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was actually quite brilliant.  I was amazed at how plausible it was to add zombies to a well-loved piece of classic literature. Without giving anything  away, I can tell you that they kept all the best parts of the original story: the Bennett sisters, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and even Pastor Collins and Lady Catherine. All of the relationship elements of the original are in this retelling, there just also happens to be a zombie plague.

I especially liked the costumes, which were an intriguing take on Regency dresses. (A long slit down the side of the skirt allowed for quick access to weapons hidden beneath without really changing the recognizable shape of the gown. Very clever!) I truly enjoyed the film and will definitely be adding it to my library once it's available on Blu-ray.

Star Wars Tsum Tsum

Are you ready for your favorite Star Wars characters to invade the world of Tsum Tsum? They arrive in our galaxy on Tuesday, February 16th at the Disney Store.  The collection includes: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, Yoda, and Wicket for the Light Side, and Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hut, and a Stormtrooper for the Dark Side. They're so cute that it's difficult to choose a favorite, but I think I like Wicket the best. Which side will you choose?

Zootopia Trailer

Disney

Zootopia looks very unique, but interesting. I hope it's as funny as the trailers.

Zootopia arrives in theaters on March 4.

Avengers Tsum Tsum

I found some adorable Avengers Tsum Tsum at Once Upon a Toy in Disney Springs last fall. I didn't get the entire set (I do occasionally practice a little restraint when it comes to Disney!) but the three I did get are just too cute: Iron Man, Captain America complete with shield, and Black Widow.

Knit Socks

Have you ever knit your own socks? It is a surprisingly gratifying experience. I have made over a dozen pairs in the past few years and am becoming quite good at it. I love finding new patterns and colors to play with. I'm also quite fond of naming my socks, based on their colors and designs. My most recent pair I've named Mount Doom. The colors reminded me of lava flowing over rock, so I chose a mountainy design to complement them. (The pattern is actually called Bifrost and is available for free on Knotions.com) I'm currently knitting a pair I think I'll call waves on the beach. The pattern is called Zigzags and is available for free on Ravelry. (Just make sure you download the corrected version.) One of my favorite pair I call Mardi Gras because of the green, gold, and purple stripes. I don't remember the name of the pattern, but I love the way it looks. So, are you ready to tackle your own sock knitting project?