Captain America: Civil War Blog Challenge

You're facing an epic battle against five extraordinary fictional opponents - all with superhero, magical, or supreme physical powers. You have your pick of partners-in-crime (justice, vengeance, etc.) to stand by your side and help you win. Who's on your team?

Since Civil War is rapidly approaching, I thought it'd be fun to do a related blog challenge. Pick any five fictional characters you would want on your team. They can be from any book, movie, tv show or comic - doesn't have to be from the Marvel universe. What would they bring to the team and how would you lead them to victory? Be as creative as you would like!

Below are my personal picks! If you want to take part in this challenge, feel free to make a post of your own (and send me a link) or comment! I'd love to read your picks!

Captain America
Sure, he has the body proportions of a Dorito. But nobody can really argue that he is one hell of a leader. He shows tact and diplomacy when voicing his opinion. People, superhuman or not, aren't perfect, and that's what keeps him human and grounded. He'd be a great voice of reason, fighter, and always has his friend's backs. Did I mention I was Team Cap all the way?

Ginny Weasley
Movie!Ginny is pretty cool, but Book!Ginny is 100x more complex. Next to Harry Potter, she suffered pretty heftily from Tom Riddle's destruction and managed to persevere almost unscathed. She survived the Dark Lord possessing her for a whole school term! That shows some insane resilience. She's outspoken and a capable warrior in battle and Quidditch. Ginny all the way!

Trinity
Let's just forget about her romance to Neo and her silly fate in The Matrix series. Trinity is awesome. The first movie opens up with her kicking butt all on her own. She proves to work well on a team and on her own. A computer hacker, skilled martial artist and fighter, weapons specialist, and can slow down time to kick ass and take names. Sign her up to my team!

Belle
She's a little bit of an out-there choice, but am I gonna need someone who is good at researching and thinking outside the box? Who knows! Belle (Once Upon A Time version) knows how to dig deep to find the answer. Trinity can handle any and all computer hacking while Belle looks through any kind of print archive, books, maps - you name it. She's more than the idealist adventurer people peg her to be and is totally capable of handling herself against mean beasts.

Poe Dameron
Poe is a decorated X-Wing pilot and rebel fighter. He's one of Leia's most trusted operatives. He was raised by his rebel-fighting parents to defeat the dark side. It's great to have some man and woman power on the ground, but the open skies need to be covered too. How awesome would it be to see a starfighter soar overhead in victory? Go team go!

On We Go! Dream Vacation Blog Challenge

If I could trek to any place in film universe, where would I go? who would come along with me? This kickstarted an idea for a dream vacation blogathon I started earlier this summer. Moving between homes delayed me from answering this a little later than I would have liked, but the time away delivered some awesome inspiration.

No adventure would be complete without some inclusion of Harry Potter for me. So that's where my vacation would kick-off. Having received my letter to attend Hogwarts as an honorary Muggle, I would tour and explore the grounds of Hogwarts.

To share this momentous occasion, Mia Thermopolis is my tag-along gal and also honorary Muggle. She seems like the perfect enthusiastic buddy to stop by Diagon Alley for a few pre-travel treats and ride on the Hogwarts Express with. We are greeted by Hagrid at the Hogsmeade Station. Our stay is only a stone's throw away at the Three Broomsticks Inn and our arrival is a magical boat ride across the lake where we gaze up at the castle glowing in the distance. Let's not put a time limit on this part of the vacation - perhaps a week or two to sit on some of the courses and Quidditch matches and stock up on candy from Honeydukes.

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Upon my exploration of the grounds and despite all warnings not to go into the Forbidden Forest, it's just something I can't ignore. But Mia is not a fan of this idea, so she stays behind (sorry Mia but I have to go!).

During my walk into the dangerous woodlands, I don't find the bewitched Ford Anglia but a Tardis. (Yes, not film related but it's a dream right?) Looking a bit tarnished, it's not long before I remove some of the vines and moss blocking my way from nudging the door open. Who should be inside but the Tenth Doctor! Despite the appearance of the Tardis, it seems he just landed and is obviously in need of a new companion.

He asks me where I want to go. Giving it some thought, the mad boy and girl in a box whirls through time and space to....

the Emerald City. Going back to 1939, we land at MGM studios right on the lot where the movie is in production. Only something is amidst on the set. Crossing over from another dimension, the poppies are actually making everyone fall into a deep sleep. No one can explain why or how this is happening. Studio head Louis B. Mayer shuts down the production temporarily claiming a change in directors while he entrusts me and the Doctor to figure out what's going on.

When we're done and things have calmed down for a bit, the Doctor uses his psychic paper to help me visit some of the other sets and meet some of my favorite movie stars like James Stewart, Bette Davis, and Clark Gable. We also try to befriend Judy Garland to overcome some invisible monsters similar to the Krafayis. But as we know, some moments in time cannot be re-written.

When I finally must depart from the Doctor, he drops me off back home at Pittsburgh. But, there's something strange and not-so-ordinary about my childhood town....

Bane has taken over "Gotham"! The bridges are down and nobody can escape the city. Of course, never giving up on hope and Batman, Commissioner Gordon and John Blake need all the help they can get. I do my best to give supplies to the police men trapped under the city and help them make markers of the tank containing the nuclear bomb.

Thankfully, during my escapades with the Doctor, I missed most of the battle between former League of Shadows member and the Caped Crusader. It isn't long before Bruce Wayne is able to dispose of the nuclear bomb by dropping it into the ocean. The apparent loss of our Dark Knight is nearly impossible but he sacrificed himself for the citizens of Gotham, and that is how they are able to move forward.

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This has been one heck of an adventure, so it's time for things to be taken down a notch. My last stop is good ol' New York City to go sight-seeing.

Visiting the New York Public Library, I overhear a conversation between two people who don't belong to each other just yet.

There's a lot of uproar on the streets about a few paranormal exterminators.

At FAO Schwartz, two men playing Chopsticks on a grand piano are a huge hit.

Stopping by Riverside Park to enjoy a delicious lunch, a golden retriever on the loose seemingly named Brinkley brings together a shop girl and a fox.

Overall, it's not a bad trip - if I do say so myself.

Dream Movie Vacation Blog Challenge

It's summertime and the living is supposed to be easy. Everyone is wishing bon voyage to their homes and workplaces to sail the open seas or relax on the beach. This little seasonal tradition gave me an idea : a dream (film-related) vacation blog challenge!

If you could travel to any place in the film universe with any of your favorite characters or love-to-hate villains, what kind of a vacation would you take?

Would you travel to a death-defying stay at Jurassic Park, a magical night at Hogwarts, midnight rendezvous to 1920s Paris, an alien planet far, far away?

Which characters would be your travel buddies - Hermione Granger, Jack Sparrow, Holly Golightly, Mary Poppins, or Indiana Jones?

Post your choice(s) of a destination(s), and at least three characters who would tag along.

Use pictures or gifs of your choices. What kind of things would you do on your vacation? Who would you meet? Venture to some place modern or a fantasy world? Be as creative as you would like!

Feel free to use one of my (full-size) banners or make your own. There's no deadline to post or share your idea! Tweet me or comment with your post!

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ABC Movie Blog Challenge

Taking a day off from movie reviews, inspiration struck me in a meme sort of way. I really wanted to do an alphabet related movie meme or 30 day challenge, but finding one was more than a challenge I thought it would be. In free moments here and there, I created this meme which I hope everyone enjoys.

As all alphabet memes go, each letter is a theme or question to answer about your love of movies. Feel free to share this on your own blog, and comment with a link to your own list. I'd love to see what your answers and choices are!