#TBT Autographs! John Ratzenberger

TBT Autographs! John Ratzenberger (2014)

Not only was John early to his 10am signing (which is a VERY rare thing for any celebrity at a convention) he was such an awesome guy, shaking hands and joking around with all the people coming up to his table.

**Check back every Thursday for another #TBT Autograph! See below for a listing of previous #TBT postings and follow me on Twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Previous #TBT Autograph! Postings:

- Candace Cameron Bure

- Christopher Lloyd

- The Road Hammers

Game Time! Beetlejuice Bone To Pick Game Review

Beetlejuice Bone To Pick Game Review

Year: 1990

Ages: 5+

Players: 2-4 (For the purpose of this review, there were 2 players)

Set Up Time: 2 minutes.

Playing Time: Took us 5 minutes.

Object: See how many bones you can balance on Beetlejuice without causing them to spill.

Review:
+ Creative. Instead of another board game this is a 3D plastic stand up game that balances so when you spin the spinner it tells you what size of bone to place on what color dish that Beetlejuice is holding.
+ Kids would really enjoy this game because what kind of kid wouldn't enjoy watching Beetlejuice drop everything he's holding while his head spins around.
+ Spinner has easy to read colors and shapes for young children to understand.

- If Beetlejuice or the stand that holds him up gets broken, there would be no way to play this game.
- You need a very soft touch when placing the bones on the dishes and the dishes are pretty small so sometimes he will lose his balance just by badly placing a larger bone on a dish.



Overall:
This was a new and creative take instead of having another game with a board. If Beetlejuice and his stand are in good working order than this game will be easy to set up. However, if some of the pieces are broken or missing, this game may not be playable at all. The spinner clearly shows colors and sizes of bones to make it really easy for younger players to be able to play as well. Although the game playing time didn't take to long, I always enjoy watching Beetlejuice's head spin around and all the bones drop from the plates when he loses his balance.

B-

**Stay tuned every Tuesday for more board game reviews! Check out some previously posted board game reviews below and follow me on Twitter @popculturedlife for more**


Previous Board Game Reviews:
- Batman: The Chase Through Gotham City
- The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery Game
- Aladdin: The Magic Carpet Game
- The Addams Family: Find Uncle Fester! Card Game

Taylor Swift- "1989" CD Review

Taylor Swift- "1989"

"There was nothing left to do

When the butterflies turned to dust that covered my whole room

So I punched a hole in the roof

Let the flood carry away all my pictures of you."

- "Clean"

Year: 2014

# Of Songs: 13 

Favorite Songs:
- "Shake It Off" 
- "Blank Space"
- "I Wish You Would"
- "Clean"

Least Favorite Songs:
- "All You Had To Do Was Stay"
- "This Love"

Overall:
I was among the people that were quite nervous about Taylor Swift releasing a "pop only" music album. However she proved that she could still write killer lyrics in pop songs and although I do hope she returns to her country roots, for now I will just shake it off.

85% (Excellent)

**Check back every Monday for another CD Review and see below for previously scored albums by Taylor Swift to see how this album stacks up**


Previously Scored Taylor Swift Albums:Taylor Swift (2006)- 97%
Fearless (2008)- 93%
Red (2012)- 88%
Speak Now (2010)- 84%

#TBT Autographs! Christopher Lloyd

#TBT Autographs! Christopher Lloyd (2013)

It was quite an honor for us to have met Christopher Lloyd at the Edmonton Expo. Not only did he offer regular photo ops but he also offered photo ops with the DeLorean where some of the proceeds went to charity. Although he didn't personalize the photo his signature is beautiful AND legible. There's nothing that stinks more than a celebrity autograph looking like a doctor's scribble. 

**Check back every Thursday for another #TBT Autograph and see below for a listing of previous #TBT posts**

**Also you can now follow me on Twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Previous #TBT Autograph! Posts:

- Candace Cameron Bure

- The Road Hammers

MasterChef Junior: Episode 7- "Top 4 Compete"

MasterChef Junior: Episode 7- "Top 4 Compete"

I just watched this weeks episode of MasterChef Junior and I was disappointed with the results as I was rooting for both Jenna and Jimmy. Nathan is clearly a strong pastry chef whereas I think Jimmy is more of a well-rounded chef and considering he won 4 challenges (which is 1 more than Andrew and Nathan) I really did expect to see him in the finale. I'm also terribly sad to see Jenna get sent home because she was such a strong competitor and it was mostly her time management skills that sent her packing. As much as I would love to be as surprised as I was last season with Logan winning, if I was placing my bet, it would have to be on Andrew. While Nathan is more calm and collected in the kitchen, I do think Andrew has a slight edge when it comes to his cooking skills. Also I don't know if I'm just amazingly observant or psychic but I always feel with MasterChef Junior (for the record, I don't watch regular MasterChef) and Hell's Kitchen that 99% of the time I can pick at least one of the finalists during the first episode. I would also say that 75% of the time, the person I've picked wins. Season one winner Alexander completely reminds me of season two's runner up Samuel who completely reminds me of this seasons Andrew. 

PS: Okay, is it just me or does everyone else have to binge eat while watching MasterChef Junior?! They always make the best looking food and I have to eat something through the whole episode or else I will lose my mind. Those raspberries on this weeks episode looked heavenly! 

**Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for celebrity autographs, TV/Movie/Music/Board Game reviews and much more**

The Other Woman (2014) Movie Review

The Other Woman (2014) Movie Review

Pretty much the only reason I wanted to watch this movie in the first place was to see Nikolaj Coster-Waldau play someone other than Jaime Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones. So when Redbox offered me a free rental, I figured why not.

Mark King (Coaster-Waldau) is cheating on his wife Kate King (Leslie Mann) with Carly Whitten (Cameron Diaz) and Amber (Kate Upton) and when the ladies figure this out they decide to get even. 

There were two problems that I had with this movie:
1) It's unbelievable. Anybody who thinks that when a wife finds out about two mistresses who then all become best friends would actually happen, they are delusional. I could see the women all ganging up on the man to get even, but actually becoming lifelong best friends? No way.
2) All the potty humor. This movie is clearly aimed at women since what man wants to watch a group of women get back at a man so I'm not sure what was with the potty humor. I for one do not find vomiting, a dog pooping or diarrhea at all funny and I can't imagine most other women do. So why would you include "jokes" that women wouldn't like if it's a movie for women? Just trying to throw a bone to the husbands and boyfriends that got dragged along to see it?

If you can look past the potty humor and the unbelievable situations, then you will find yourself with a predictable chick flick. It's a popcorn movie and worth a watch if nothing else is on, or if you've got a free rental too (I'm sorry you're leaving Canada, Redbox!). And if nothing else this movie was an upgrade for Jaime Lannister who got to sleep with (at least) three women instead of his sister.

Grade: B

Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for more reviews!

Game Time! Batman: The Chase Through Gotham City Game Review

Batman: The Chase Through Gotham City

Year: 1989

Ages: 6+

Players: 2-7 (For the purpose of this review, there was 2 players.)

Set Up Time: 1 minute.

Playing Time: Took us 6 minutes.

Object: Be the first to reach the hideout by moving the designated spaces by the spinner.

Review:
+ Lots of (good or bad) characters to play as (Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Riddler, Joker, Catwoman & Penguin.)
+ The game board, spinner and all playing pawns glow in the dark.

- There is nothing to do in this game but spin the spinner and race to the hideout. Whoever has the highest spins and lands on the right number to escape the trap spaces, will win.

Overall:
I was excited to play this game and try out the glow in the dark feature (which would have been a huge hit at sleepover parties back in the day). It only takes a few minutes to soak in enough light to be able to turn off the light and have it glow. However, this game and my eyes are very similar in ages so either my eyes are starting to get bad and not see quite as well in the dark or this game board doesn't hold the glow feature as well as I'm assuming it use to. We could have the lights off for about 2 minutes but then it would fade and we had to turn the lights back on again. Though it was great to be able to play with many different character pawns but the downside of the game is the fact that there really is nothing to do aside from racing other players to the hideout.

C+

**Stay tuned to my blog every Tuesday for more board game reviews and check out previously posted board game reviews below as well as the Season 1 review for the 1966 Batman Series here**
**Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Previous Board Game Reviews:
- The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery Game
- Aladdin: The Magic Carpet Game
- The Addams Family: Find Uncle Fester! Card Game

Garth Brooks- "Man Against Machine" CD Review

Garth Brooks- "Man Against Machine"

"You can't cry for 'em

Live and die for 'em

You can help them find their wings but you can't fly for 'em

'Cause if they're not free to fall, than they're not free at all

And though you just can't bare the thought of letting go

You pick 'em up

You dust 'em off

And send 'em on down the road"

- "Send 'em On Down The Road"

Year: 2014

# of Songs: 14

Total Album Minutes: 58 minutes

Favorite Songs:
- "She's Tired Of Boys"
- "Mom"
- "Send 'em On Down The Road"

Least Favorite Songs:
- "Romeo & Juliet"

Overall:
It's great to see Garth Brooks back in the saddle after years away from the music scene. He's able to bring back a bit of the 90s country sound in songs like "Romeo & Juliet" and "Wrong About You" and able to start my waterworks flowing with "Mom".

83% (Excellent)

**Check back every Friday for another Country CD Review! See below for previously scored albums from Garth Brooks to see how this album stacks up and follow me on Twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Previously Scored Garth Brooks Albums:
No Fences (1990)- 80%
Garth Brooks (1989)- 80%
Fresh Horses (1995)- 77%
In Pieces (1993)- 77%
Sevens (1997)- 76%
The Chase (1992)- 76%
Scarecrow (2001)- 75% 

#TBT Autographs! The Road Hammers

#TBT Autographs! The Road Hammers (2009)

Met The Road Hammers a few years back when they opened for Montgomery Gentry. Great group of guys! Also love that Clayton does the Drive Home Show on 103.9 Cisn FM every weekday.

**Check back every Thursday for another #TBT Autograph! and see below for a listing of previous #TBT postings**
**Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Previous #TBT Autograph! Postings:
- Candace Cameron Bure

Batman (1966): Season 1 Review

Batman (1966): Season 1 Review

Fans of this show waited for years for this series to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray and finally on November 11 2014 it happened. This is the review for Season 1.

I grew up watching the 1967 Batman movie and was obsessed with it. Seriously. Even though there were several newer versions of Batman (including Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995)), I had never fallen as much in love with Batman as I did watching the 1967 movie and since the movie was filmed between season one and season two the majority of the actors are the same in season one: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O'Hara), Cesar Romero (Joker), Burgess Meredith (Penguin) and Frank Gorshin (Riddler). 

I did watch this series on re-runs in the 90s but all I really remember is "Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-Channel" so to get to see how the series started was amazing. I love that the show starts off with already established characters, instead of once again seeing Batman & Robins origin story, they already are the crime fighting duo. Everyone in Gotham knows Batman and Batman has knowledge of all the criminals. If the episode has a criminal that is new to the Batman universe (False Face) than they give a quick recap of who they are and what they want.

Let's talk about the villains for a second. At the beginning of the series I really enjoyed when the criminal would use gas coming out of an object but by the end of the season, it became really overused. I knew anytime they were holding an object (umbrella, bagpipes, cane) that gas would be coming out of the end. I also have to say that if the villains goal is in fact to get rid of Batman & Robin for good, they really stink at it. Not only that but they don't seem to harm anyone in this series, even civilians. Almost always they get knocked out with some kind of gas but in the end they are always unharmed. I also understand why the Joker and the Riddler are always giving clues or playing jokes on the Dynamic Duo but why the heck do all the other villains give leave them clues? Don't they realize that Batman & Robin are smart enough to figure out the clues and stop their evil plans? Doesn't make sense to me. Plus how are all these villains constantly escaping jail? It's very clear that the Gotham City Police Department is poorly run, being unable to solve any crime without the help of Batman & Robin, but they also can't keep the bad guys in jail? 

All of the episodes have two parts giving time for each story line to get more in depth. The first of the two episodes tends to focus on the criminals while the second part is more about Batman & Robin. I also love that throughout this season the show blatantly mentions morals. From good dental health, obeying the street signs, eating your vegetables, wearing your seat belt to drinking milk, you can always find good morals within the story lines.  

The series looks great in Blu-Ray and it even gives you the opportunity to see things that may not have been noticeable before, like the stunt men. In MANY scenes you can clearly see that Robin is actually stunt Robin, most noticeably in the fight/action scenes. His body type is similar but his face looks a lot different as does his hairline. It's much harder to tell if and when Batman has a stunt man because most of his face is covered by the mask. 

For me, watching this series as an adult is an amazing mix of nostalgia with a new appreciation for all that the Batman series was. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves Batman and 60s style humor (much like Get Smart). The only downside, is you may find yourself walking around the house singing "Na na na na na na na na Batman".

A-

**Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for celebrity autographs, TV/Movie/Music/Board Game reviews and much more**

Game Time! The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery Game Review

The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery Game Review

Year: 1992

Ages: 8+

Players: 2-4 (For the purpose of this review, there were 2 players)

Set Up Time: 1 minute

Playing Time: Took us 17 minutes.

Object: Uncover all the word clues and finish four baby-sitting jobs.

Review:
+ You get to play as your favorite Babysitter!

- In addition to the instructions being VERY lengthy they also refer to all the players as "her" and "she". Needless to say that the boy I was playing with was quick to point out that fact.
- The character's can't go to their own houses to make phone calls which makes NO sense. 
- All you are required to do is four baby-sitting jobs which only gives you four dollars
meaning that you can only ask another player four questions at the BSC meetings because after that you are all out of money and must run to pay phones (which apparently don't charge?!) and houses that you have previously or are currently babysitting at.
- There are 12 possible answers to the "Who" "What" "Why" and "Where" questions (that players get to pick depending on which question card you choose) and since you can only ask one question at a time this takes up the longest chunk of playing time.
- In the end you get a "Mystery Story" like this: The weird and lonely ghost took an old locked up bike because he was in love and wanted fame inside the cool messy attic.

Overall:
I honestly almost gave up playing this game while listening to the long list of instructions, which I'm assuming is why the suggested age is 8+. On the bright side you get to play as your favorite baby-sitter (Of course, I picked Stacey!) but the downsides greatly outweigh your choice of playing pawn. Between not having enough money to ask questions at the BSC meetings to having it take forever because there are so many possible answers that players could pick (12 possible answers PER question), made playing this game unpleasant. I know I played this game as a kid but I'm starting to think that maybe we just ran around the board and made up our own rules. In the end, if you enjoy writing silly sentences, have a telepathic mind to pick the other players answers and you are 8, it might be fun. Otherwise, save yourself the work and pick up an old Baby-Sitters Club Mystery book instead.

C-

**Stay tuned to my blog every Tuesday for more board game reviews and check out some previously posted board game reviews below**
**Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for more**


Previous Board Game Reviews:
- Aladdin: The Magic Carpet Game
- The Addams Family: Find Uncle Fester! Card Game

One Direction- "Four" CD Review

One Direction- "Four"

"We're only getting older, baby

And I've been thinking about it lately

Does it every drive you crazy

Just how fast the night changes?"

- "Night Changes"

Year: 2014

# of Songs: 12 Songs

Favorite Songs:

- "Steal My Girl"

- "Night Changes"

Least Favorite Songs:

- "Girl Almighty"

- "Stockholm Syndrome"

Overall:

I found this album to have a slightly different sound to it. Maybe it was an "older" sound than the type of albums they've released in the past but I also found the songs in the album to be less catchy.

72% (Good)

**Check back every Monday for another CD Review and see below for previously scored albums from One Direction to see how this album stacks up.**
**Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for more**


Previous One Direction Album Scores:
Take Me Home (2012)- 82%
Midnight Memories (2013)- 76% 
Up All Night (2011)- 72% 

#TBT Autographs! Candace Cameron Bure

#TBT Autographs! Candace Cameron Bure (2011)

Although I've never met Candace I was able to purchase a personalized autographed photo from her online store (which is a fantastic feature for every celebrity to have!). It's beautiful and will have to do until I get the chance to meet her in person. 

PS. On the very slim chance Candace is actually reading this, please consider coming to the Calgary Expo or the Edmonton Expo. You're Canadian fan base would love a meet & greet! 

**Check back every Thursday for another #TBT Autograph! and follow me on Twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Game Time! Aladdin: The Magic Carpet Game Review

Aladdin: The Magic Carpet Game Review

Ages: 5+

Year: 1992

Players: 2-4 (For the purpose of this review, 2 people played)

Set Up Time: 2 minutes

Playing Time: Took us 8 minutes.

Object: Complete rescue mission and get the Genie card.

Review:
+ I am very easily amused and this game captured my full attention. Someone was brilliant enough to create a Magic Carpet game where you get to put your pawns on the Magic Carpet and spin them around the board. I probably had just as much fun spinning them around as a kid would, though possibly more. I spun that carpet around the board so fast, I'm pretty sure I made Jasmine sick. The bonus is that the pieces were well built to withstand my spinning 23 years later.
+ The amount of rescue missions each player will have to complete will change with the amount of players. 
+ You get to play as your favorite character! 

- The hardest part of this game is trying to get your spinner to land on all your mission spots. When you get down to only one or two mission's left, it may take many turns with nothing else to do but spin the spinner.

Overall:
This is my first time playing this board game but it will not be my last. I love interactive games and getting to spin the Magic Carpet around the board was more than enough to keep me entertained. Thankfully, the game was built well and it plays no different now than it probably did 23 years ago and chances are it will still play the same 15 years from now.

B

**Stay tuned to my blog every Tuesday for more board game reviews and check out some previously posted blog reviews below**
**Follow me on twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Previous Board Game Reviews:
The Addams Family: Find Uncle Fester! Card Game

Florida Georgia Line- "Anything Goes" CD Review

Florida Georgia Line- "Anything Goes"

"High as the stars in the Milky Way
Those summer days drifted away,
But she'll always float
Back through my mind like smoke"
- "Smoke"

Year: 2014

# of Songs: 12

Favorite Songs:
- "Smoke"
- "Confession"

Least Favorite Songs:
- "Angel"

Overall:
I really enjoy that they are able to merge the country music and the pop music at the same time. Songs about Friday nights, love and good times are my favorite. 

97% (MUST BUY!)

**Check back every Friday for another Country CD Review!See below for previously scored Florida Georgia Line albums to see how this one stacks up and follow me on Twitter @popculturedlife for more**

Previously Scored Florida Georgia Albums:
Here's To The Good Times (2012)- 82%