Books on Screen

March 28, 2013 | Published in Books on Screen, Jennifer, Movies

The Host movie, Bring Your Baby Matinee

by Jennifer



                               

When my kids were bthehostmovieabies, there was a time or two that I braved the movie theater experience in a quest to be out in the world.  One was a regular movie, which I was pretty sure my infant daughter would sleep through it (and thankfully she did), but the other time was “crybaby matinee,” to which I took my son, knowing it would be okay if even if he didn’t sleep like a baby.

It was fun, and I wondered why I didn’t do it more often.  Now that both of my children are in school all day, and I’m home several days a week, I still wonder why I don’t escape to the magic of the movies more often!

But for those of you with little ones at home or who have a friend who avoids getting out because of the limitations of taking a baby to a mommy-themed activity, AMC Theaters is offering moms an opportunity for moms to see The Host movie on Tuesday, April 2, at noon.

What is a Bring-Your-Baby matinee?

Crying babies? Breastfeeding? Stroller parking? All of the above is allowed at these special showings for parents like you. See the movies you want to see in a baby-friendly zone. That means the lights are brighter, the volume is lowered, and poopy diapers are not frowned upon. Plus, you can feel good about having some fun! Part of your ticket purchase will go to the Will Rogers Institute, a nonprofit that provides much-needed equipment to neonatal intensive care units and promotes research, treatment and education on cardio-pulmonary diseases.
First Tuesday of Every Month at Noon. Find out where you can go in your area: http://www.amctheatres.com/programs/bring-your-baby.

I hope to take my teen daughter to see the movie next weekend when it comes out.  I read the book when it first came out in hardcover (read my review of the The Host book), and Amanda read it last summer and enjoyed it as well.  I think it will look great on the big screen, and it will be a fun mother-daughter outing, but if she was 13 or 14 years younger, I might be planning to grab a friend and take in the matinee instead!

Synopsis:

What if everything you love was taken from you in the blink of an eye? “The Host” is the next epic love story from the creator of the “Twilight Saga,” worldwide bestselling author, Stephenie Meyer.  When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) will risk everything to protect the people she cares most about — Jared (Max Irons), Ian (Jake Abel), her brother Jamie (Chandler Canterbury) and her Uncle Jeb (William Hurt) , proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world.
Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and violence
THE HOST hits theaters nationwide March 29th, 2013!


                               

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Admission: Books on Screen

Late last year, as I sat in a darkening movie theater, the previews began to roll. Up popped the insanely funny and talented Tina Fey on the screen, and I sat up a little straighter, suddenly anxious to pay attention to a preview. Then came Paul Rudd, an actor who I had only a few weeks earlier had the pleasure of interviewing in relation to the funny December release, This is 40. As the movie plot became clear, a sense of familiarity began to take hold. Then the title came up- Admission.

That title made me almost certain, but I wanted to be sure.

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Safe Haven: Books on Screen

We’ve helped Relativity Media get the word out on Nicholas Sparks’ latest movie adaptation Safe Haven for a while now, and the movie is finally out (If you haven’t done so already, check out the Kindle giveaway that they are sponsoring here!)

After all this build up, you might be wondering about the movie. I got to see an advanced screening this week, and so I’m reporting in! My husband and I saw the movie together (yes, he was willing to go) in a theater packed with men and women from college age up to even older than me. The audience seemed to be very engaged.

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Interviewing Author Nicholas Sparks about his book and movie SAFE HAVEN

I love Nicholas Sparks and was so excited to have the opportunity to meet him in person and interview him at the Safe Haven press junket in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. He was so awesome to talk to and did such an amazing job with Safe Haven! Check out some of the interview questions we asked Nicholas Sparks at the press junket:

Nicholas Sparks Talks About How the Idea of Safe Haven was Born

Nicholas: “All right. Safe Haven started with the germ of an idea. Years ago, I had written a novel called The Guardian, which had an element of danger in the novel.

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Call the Midwife : Books on Screen

I read a lot of books, and hands-down one of the top 3 I read last year was a memoir of a woman who worked as a midwife in one of London’s slums during the 1950s. It was part two of the three she wrote, and was called Shadows of the Workhouse. It was stunning–true stories but reading like fiction, written with balance and compassion. It made me actually cry (not just sniffle), it made me angry, it made me resigned and philosophical, it made me laugh out loud in parts. Seriously, an incredible book and one you should go read right now if you haven’t yet read it.

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KINDLE GIVEAWAY in honor of Nicholas Sparks’ new movie, SAFE HAVEN

Nicholas Sparks has had phenomenal success with his books and book-to-screen adaptations.  I read Safe Haven a year ago, my first Nicholas Sparks in a while.  You can check out my review on the giveaway we ran in the fall as a sneak preview.

I’m looking forward to seeing the movie, which seems like a great mix of romance, action, and intrigue.  I was quite surprised at the level of suspense in the novel. If you have written off Nicholas Sparks as too saccharine sweet, give a second look to this one.  On the other hand, there’s plenty of heart and courage in this story, which are hallmarks of his works, so I truly feel there’s something for everyone.

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Let’s discuss The Hobbit {Books on Screen}

How do you feel when books you love get made into movies? Me, I usually hate them. If I do like them (i.e. Hunger Games), I still think the book was so much better, and I’m always sad that my mental images have been ruined. In fact, I’ll admit I’m usually one of those people spluttering incoherently at the screen, while my husband rolls his eyes and says sympathetic things like, “That tree was much further left in the book.”

JRR Tolkein and his world of Middle Earth play starring roles in our family’s lives. I’d read the  books, several times, especially in high school and college.

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Books on Screen: Let’s Discuss Les Miserables

So — have you seen it??

I could go on and on and ON about it, because this film exceeded my expectations. The cinematography was fantastic, and the way the story was put together highlighted everything about each character in new and wonderful ways. I’ve read the book twice, I’ve seen it on stage and listened to the soundtrack so often, and I’ve seen the non-musical movie (which I was surprised to read that when I watched it for the nth time 3 1/2 years ago after our Les Miserables Classics bookclub that I was slightly disillusioned. I’m planning on showing Amanda, so we’ll see if I feel that way again.

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Last Minute Warner Brothers Giveaway!

Oh I know you’re still shopping! Donn and I are actually going to brave a mall during the month of December. (We were overseas for 10 years, away from the crazed consumerism of an American Christmas, and it’s taken us a while before being able to handle certain aspects of American life.) I do a lot of my shopping online, and I love this giveaway that Warner Bros. is offering to those of us still trying to come up with something to please our nephews or fathers-in-law.

But, like the snow falling outside my window on the Portland, OR street, this giveaway will soon melt away.

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Playing for Keeps Movie {Gift Pack Giveaway}

Do you watch movies and get a little blown away at the beautifully styled actresses? I’ll admit that I often get pulled out of the plot by imagining how different my face would look if it was blown up on screen the size of a house. It would be embarrassingly bad I fear. I don’t dwell on it, because I know their beauty isn’t real. They have professional stylists, makeup artists, wardrobe, assistants who carry their water bottle around so they can stay hydrated.

In honor of the release of the Playing for Keeps movie, the studio is offering a perfect “Me Moment” gift collection for one of you.

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October Baby: Books on Screen

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Chasing Mavericks {Movie Gift Card, Book, and Soundtrack Prize Pack}

Chasing Mavericks, the inspirational true story of surfing phenom Jay Moriarity, is coming out in theaters TODAY. To celebrate the release, 20th Century Fox is giving away a great prize pack over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

This movie was made with the help of some of the biggest names in the surfing world, and features some of the most mind-blowing wave footage ever captured on film. And the music of the film is derived from the soundtrack-taking place in a time of rock n’ roll (the 90s) in which some of the best Alternative Rock was recorded and released.

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