“Hotel Transylvania” is a hilarious must-see movie from start to finish. With an all star cast consisting of Adam Sandler as Dracula, Andy Samberg as Jonathan, Selena Gomez as Mavis, Kevin James as Frankenstein, Steve Buscemi as Wayne the werewolf, David Spade as Griffin the Invisible Man, and CeeLo Green as Murray the mummy, the movie is an absolute treat for all ages.

Mild Spoilers Ahead!

The movie defies “monster” expectations by having humans be the villains and the “monsters” be the victims. The story revolves around Count Dracula building a hotel to be a safe haven for monsters (and his infant daughter, Mavis) in 1895. Dracula’s wife was killed by humans, so he is adamant that nothing will happen to their precious daughter.

The movie jumps forward to the present and is now Mavis’s 118^th birthday. Despite her age, Mavis is, for all intents and purposes, a teenager. As typical teenagers who have overprotective parents, Mavis is eager to explore the outside world, particularly the human world. After Dracula allows her to go to the nearby village, which he has constructed and filled with zombies impersonating humans, Mavis decides that humans are terrible and she never wants to leave the safety of the hotel again. Dracula is now content with the knowledge that humans will never harm Mavis…or at least he is until a human named Jonathan stumbles into the hotel.

Jonathan is the typical young backpacker who wants to see the world while living out of his backpack. He is spontaneous and carefree, which instantly attracts Mavis, who is unaware he is a human. Dracula disguises Jonathan as a monster so his hotel’s reputation will not be harmed by the fact that a human was able to invade their territory. Jonathan takes the monsters on a wild ride to rediscovering the concept of fun and freedom, and ultimately challenges every misconception they have about humans.

Perhaps what makes this movie so great, besides the all-star cast, is the believable and relatable storyline of a father trying to protect his daughter because he loves her so much, while the daughter wants nothing more than to be free. The movie clearly portrays what a parent will do for their child in the name of love, and it shows the sometimes painful side of letting your child make their own mistakes. The movie also challenges against making judgments about others who you do not understand, which is a very important lesson for kids to learn.

“Hotel Transylvania” is a heartwarming, hilarious story that instills important life lessons into kids, which makes this movie an absolute must-see.

Rating: 4.5/5

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Third season of “Boardwalk Empire” started last week and the life of Atlantic City’s most brutal continues to woo fans. The award-winning show started off a year and a half after season two and returned with questions that viewers are dying to find answers to, like what will the character of Gyp Rosetti bring? And can Nucky and Margaret’s marriage be saved?

HBO has released the plots of October’s episodes.

Episode #28: “Blue Bell Boy” – Sunday October 7 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

After tracking down a liquor thief, Nucky (Steve Buscemi) and Owen (Charlie Cox) spend a long night hiding out from the fedswith the precocious perp. In his boss’ absence, and with Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) fuming over a late delivery, Mickey (Paul Sparks) overrules Eli (Shea Whigham) to make a routing call that will have far-reaching consequences for Nucky and Gyp (Bobby Cannavale). Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) encounters a familiar face while promoting Dr. Mason’s (Patrick Kennedy) classes at the new women’s clinic at St. Theresa’s. In New York, Lucky (Vincent Piazza) haggles with Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi) over heroin splits, while in Chicago, Capone’s (Stephen Graham) feud with O’Banion (Arron Shiver) heats up when one of his collectors gets roughed up on the South Side.

Written by David Stenn; directed by Kari Skogland.

Episode #29: “You’d Be Surprised” – Sunday October 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

After venting with Nucky about his liquor travails, Rothstein sends Gyp an unequivocal message in Tabor Heights. In Washington, Gaston Means (Stephen Root) sees opportunity in a Senate investigation of Harry Daugherty (Christopher McDonald) and the Justice Department. Billie (Meg Chambers Steedle) gets a new co-star to revive her faltering show; Van Alden (Michael Shannon) and Sigrid (Christiane Seidel) receive an unexpected visitor; Gillian (Gretchen Mol) worries about keeping her business afloat in Jimmy’s absence; Margaret has awkward moments at the hospital and, later, at Madam Jeunet’s (Anna Katarina).

Written by Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider; directed by Tim Van Patten.

Episode #30: “Ging Gang Goolie” – Sunday October 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

After being detained in Washington by Daugherty’s henchmen, Nucky approaches Esther Randolph (Julianne Nicholson), his onetime nemesis, and later entertains an intriguing proposition from GastonMeans. In Atlantic City, Margaret copes with Teddy’s (Rory and Declan McTigue) demons, while Owen investigates a suspicious fire; Gillian feuds with Lucky and finds a surrogate for Jimmy; and Richard (Jack Huston) connects with pugilistic vet Paul Sagorsky (Mark Borkowsky) and his daughter Julia (Wrenn Schmidt).

Written by Steve Kornacki; directed by Ed Bianchi.

Episode #31: “Sunday Best” – Sunday October 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

On Easter Sunday, Eli looks to get back in Nucky’s good graces at a Thompson family reunion. While Richard and Tommy (Brady and Connor Noon) spend the day as guests of the Sagorskys, Gillian stays athome and makes a sacrifice to improve her future. In New York, after dinner and prayers, Gyp heads downtown in search of a blessing – from Joe Masseria.

Written by Howard Korder; directed by Allen Coulter.

For more on the series, please visit facebook.com/BoardwalkEmpire and twitter.com @HBO # BoardwalkEmpire.

Created by Terence Winter, “Boardwalk Empire” is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Tim Van Patten and Howard Korder; co-executive producers, Eugene Kelly, Chris Haddock, Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov, Rolin Jones; producers, Joseph Iberti, Rick Yorn; co-producer, Steve Kornacki; supervising producer, David Stenn.

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Atlantic City, New Year’s Eve, 1922: The Roaring ‘20s are about to begin in earnest. Despite a booming economy, alcohol is scarce and gangster violence is heating up. With his marriage to Margaret already on the rocks, Nucky Thompson faces the challenge of mending old relationships and encounters new competition from a hair-trigger gangster determined to siphon off his business.

From Terence Winter, Emmy Award-winning writer of “The Sopranos” and Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, “Boardwalk Empire” is set in the 1920s during Prohibition, and chronicles the life and times of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the undisputed leader of Atlantic City. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning drama series kicks off its 12-episode third season Sunday, September 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by other episodes on subsequent Sundays at the same time.

In season two, Nucky married Margaret Schroeder to prevent her from testifying in court and took revenge on Jimmy Darmody for his role in a plot against him. But his hopes for smooth sailing were derailed when she signed away his highway windfall to the church. Meanwhile, agent Van Alden fled to Illinois to escape the feds with baby and nanny in tow.

“Boardwalk Empire” stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson; Kelly Macdonald as Margaret, Nucky’s wife; Michael Shannon as federal agent Nelson Van Alden; Gretchen Mol as Gillian, Jimmy Darmody’s mother; Shea Whigham as Nucky’s estranged brother Elias; Michael Stuhlbarg as gangster Arnold Rothstein; Stephen Graham as gangster Al Capone;Vincent Piazza as gangster Lucky Luciano; Michael Kenneth Williams as Nucky’s ally Chalky White, leader of the city’s African-American community; Anthony Laciura as Eddie Kessler, Nucky’s valet; Paul Sparks as gangster Mickey Doyle; Jack Huston as Richard Harrow, a disfigured war veteran; Charlie Cox as Owen Sleater, Nucky’s right-hand man; Bobby Cannavale as Gyp Rosetti, Nucky’s new foe; Arron Shiver as gangster Dean O’Banion; Christopher McDonald as U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty; Stephen Root as Gaston Means, a go-between for Nucky and Daugherty; and MegChambers Steedle as Billie Kent, Nucky’s new mistress.

September’s episodes

Episode #25: “Resolution” – Debut: Sunday, September 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

While hosting a New Year’s Eve party for 1922-23, Nucky makes a resolution that does not sit well with Gyp Rosetti, a touchy gangster with a thirst for bootleg whiskey. Margaret looks to build on the Thompson endowment at St. Theresa’s Hospital, to her husband’s displeasure. In the absence of Jimmy and the Commodore, Gillian builds a new business while monitoring Richard’s mentoring of her “son,” Tommy. In Chicago, Al Capone is rankled by Irish mobster Dean O’Banion, and Van Alden stumbles onto a confrontation that could change his career path.

Episode #26: “Spaghetti & Coffee” – Debut: Sunday, September 23 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Mixing business with pleasure in New York, Nucky bristles at the collection tactics of Gaston Means, a “special investigator” with ties to Attorney General Harry Daugherty. At St. Theresa’s, Margaret is troubled when her altruism is met with resistance by both a patient and an idealistic doctor. Gyp extends his stopover in Tabor Heights, a town halfway between Atlantic City and New York, with an eye towards establishing a strategic foothold. Chalky and his daughter Maybelle (Christina Jackson) fail to agree on her future with Samuel (Ty Michael Robinson); Eli gets a new boss and faces new realities at home; a major liquor shipment takes an unexpected detour.

Episode #27: “Bone for Tuna” – Debut: Sunday, September 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Disturbed by a recent nightmare and Billie’s absence, Nucky reluctantly joins Margaret to receive a high honor from the Church. Meanwhile, Gyp makes a deal with Nucky for a onetime liquor shipment, though the mobster’s longtime intentions remain very much up in the air. Van Alden regrets trying to socialize with his co-workers; Margaret takes her women’s-clinic pitch to a higher authority; Lucky and Meyer (Anatol Yusef) protect their investments; Richard sets the record straight with Mickey, and with Nucky.

“Boardwalk Empire” recently received 12 nominations for the upcoming 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi) and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Tim Van Patten).

In September 2011, “Boardwalk Empire” received eight Emmy Awards, the most of any program that year, in the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards competition, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Martin Scorsese).

In January 2011, “Boardwalk Empire” received two Golden Globe Awards, for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Steve Buscemi).

For two years in a row, the series has received Screen Actors Guild awards for both Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (Steve Buscemi).

Among the critical raves for the second season, which concluded in December 2011, New York’s Daily News called the show “delicious entertainment” and “one of the best shows on television,” while Daily Variety termed it “consistently bold and lusty,” as well as “good to the last illicit, intoxicating drop.” The Boston Globe hailed “Boardwalk Empire” as “a must-see show” and “remarkable,” and Entertainment Weekly noted that “drama this good should be illegal.”

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There were 18 Golden Globe nominations given to HBO programs last month, the most of any television network this year, for the upcoming 69th annual Golden Globe Awards, which will be presented in Los Angeles on January 15. ‘Mildred Pierce,’ starring Oscar-winners Kate Winslet and Melissa Leo, led all HBO programming with four nominations, tied for the most of any TV series or program.

HBO’s Golden Globe nominations this year include:

Four nominations for ‘Mildred Pierce,’ including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Kate Winslet), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Evan Rachel Wood) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Guy Pearce).

Three nominations for ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ including Best Television Series – Drama, Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Steve Buscemi) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Kelly Macdonald).

Three nominations for ‘Cinema Verite,’ including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Diane Lane) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Tim Robbins).

Three nominations for ‘Too Big to Fail,’ including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (William Hurt) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Paul Giamatti).

Two nominations for ‘Enlightened’: Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical (Laura Dern).

Two nominations for ‘Game of Thrones,’ including Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Peter Dinklage).

One nomination for ‘Hung’: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical (Thomas Jane).

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The widely acclaimed HBO series Boardwalk Empire opened a second season on HBO and will continue its tale of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a politician and a gangster who reigned prohibition era Atlantic City this coming November.

The first episode of the Emmy Award-winning show was the most expensive pilot in television history and directed by the careful hands of Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese.

Fans and critics have praised the show for its visual and historical accuracy and audiences can look forward to more character-driven drama by Steve Buscemi as the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic County, Michael Pitt as Nucky’s protege Jimmy Darmody and Kelly MacDonald as Margaret, Nucky’s mistress. Also starring is Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham and Paz de la Huerta.

Episode #19: “Peg of Old” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

While Nucky enlists heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey (Devin Harjes) to promote the wireless broadcast of his upcoming fight, Jimmy faces a decision that could shape the future of Atlantic City. Margaret travels to Brooklyn for a bittersweet reunion with the family she left behind in Ireland.

Irked by the arrival of Daugherty’s (Christopher McDonald) new federal prosecutor, Esther Randolph (Julianne Nicholson), Nelson (Michael Shannon) weighs his options as his personal and professional problems converge. Badly in need of support, Lucy (Paz de la Huerta) visits an old flame for a handout. Owen (Charlie Cox) settles one score, and sets his sights on a new conquest.

Episode #20: “Two Boats and a Lifeguard” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

In the wake of a personal loss, Nucky solicits advice on his political situation from Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), while Eli (Shea Whigham) remains suspicious of his brother’s actions. Nucky finds himself in the unfamiliar position of showing gratitude toward a federal agent; Angela (Aleksa Palladino) meets a new friend at the beach, and eavesdrops on her husband’s treachery;

Nelson gets a nanny; Nucky approaches Owen with an overseas proposition; Jimmy flexes his muscles, at Mickey Doyle’s (Paul Sparks) expense.

Episode #21: “Battle of the Century” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Arriving in Belfast, Nucky and Owen meet with IRA leaders with a barter proposition.  Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, Jimmy and his partners broker a deal with George Remus (Glenn Fleshler) for his “medicinal” alcohol before taking a break to see/hear the Dempsey fight. Margaret frets when Emily’s (Josie and Lucy Gallina) illness takes a turn for the worse;

Dunn Purnsley (Erik LaRay Harvey) orchestrates a worker’s strike at the Ritz; Waxey Gordon (Nick Sandow) takes action against Manny Horvitz (William Forsythe) in Philadelphia; Randolph and Clifford Lathrop (Curt Bouril) grill Halloran about Nucky’s past.

Episode #22:  “Georgia Peaches” – Debut: Sunday, Nov. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Undercut by Nucky, who has a new source for alcohol, Jimmy and his partners look to cultivate a new revenue stream in Atlantic City. With the peak tourist season approaching, the Commodore’s (Dabney Coleman) crew faces a choice in dealing with the city’s striking workers: negotiate or fight back.

Fearing that sin has led to misfortune, Margaret approaches Father Brennan (Michael Cumpsty) with an “act of devotion.” Nucky gets a new lawyer; Van Alden faces an uncertain future; Manny Horvitz takes exception to a debt payment.

Created by Terence Winter, Boardwalk Empire is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/boardwalkempire

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