Film Review “5 to 7”

Starring: Anton Yelchin, Berenice Marlohe and Frank Langella
Directed by: Victor Levin
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 35 mins
IFC Films

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Meet Brian (Yelchin). A struggling young author living in New York, he spends many of his waking hours walking in Central Park and observing the various dedications placed by loved ones on the many benches that fill the park. Though he is alone, he can’t help but muse that, when you are out in public, you are always “20 feet from someone you know or want to know.” One day Brian meets someone he most definitely wants to know. And that introduction changes everything.

Cleverly acted by a cast that truly believes in the material, “5 to 7” is a true May-December romance with a twist. The person Brian meets, the lovely Arielle (Marlohe), can only see Brian between the hours of 5 and 7 nightly. Brian soon learns that Arielle is married (her husband is a French diplomat). He’s very surprised to learn that hubby is fine with Arielle seeing Brian, especially since he has his own “friend,” ironically a publishing editor. Even more surprising is that the four of them hit it off like old friends whenever they’re together. Ooh-la-la!

Best known for his role in the current “Star Trek” films, Yelchin is very genuine as a young, sometimes naïve man making his way in the world. Marlohe is equally good as the older, more secure Arielle. Veterans Frank Langella and Glenn Close show up as Brian’s parents and give the film a nice shot of humor. Director Levin, who also wrote the script, allows his cameras to capture the sights of the city, which sets the moods of the film. Though the film runs just over an hour and a half, to me it felt like it should have ended 10 minutes before it did. Still, that being said, “5 to 7” is a small romance that deserves your time.

Orlando Home Show Returns October 5-7, 2012

Get organized with valuable tips from Mark Brunetz of Style Network’s Clean House

ORLANDO, Fla. (September 18, 2012) – Inspiration will start the minute guests step into the 2012 Orlando Home Show, the only place to find smart ideas and fresh advice for gardening, home improvement, decorating and more from hundreds of experts, all under one roof. Orlando’s original and largest consumer home show returns October 5-7 to Hall North B in the Orange County Convention Center’s North/South complex off Universal Boulevard, and features local, regional and national experts, instructional how-to seminars, contests, giveaways and much more. The home improvement extravaganza will spotlight Featured Products and Services and exhibitors who are participating in the fall show for the very first time.

Special features include appearances by Mark Brunetz of Style Network’s Clean House; a Design Showcase and free design consultations by AP Interiors; a tech gadget-filled Smart House constructed by Universal Contracting; and daily seminars by home improvement experts on the Fresh Ideas Home Stage.

According to Marketplace Events, the nation’s largest producer of home shows, including the Orlando Home Show,consumers continue to seek out home improvement projects to protect their investment as the economy slowly improves. “Hundreds of experts are standing by to help consumers, whether they have a specific project in mind or are seeking fresh ideas,” said Cristian Moore, Orlando show manager for Marketplace Events. “We offer a fun day out and there’s something for everyone at our show.”

Want to live clutter free in spectacularly designed, yet affordable rooms that convey your true sense of personal style?Mark Brunetz’s presentations on the Fresh Ideas Main Stage will empower guests to reclaim their living spaces. Tackling the emotional reasons why people unnecessarily hang on to possessions, Brunetz will offer valuable tips to help clear the clutter, get organized, and make way for a more efficient, nicer place in which to live during his presentations on Friday at 6:00 p.m., Saturday at 12 noon and 5:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

Creative juices will start flowing when guests stroll through the Designer Showcase, presented by Ana Palacios Interiors of Orlando. Fully decorated, accessorized and uniquely-themed living, dining, bedroom and office spaces – even a child’s bedroom – will showcase the very latest trends, styles and colors, from transitional to eclectic to contemporary. Colorful tangerine-colored walls, chrome pieces and holiday accents are among the hundreds of design elements that will be on display. Designers will be available throughout the weekend during show hours offering free consultations. Guests are encouraged to bring photos, floor plans, fabric swatches and paint samples for help solving their toughest home improvement challenges.

Consumers can also find answers to their DIY and home improvement, landscaping and home décor questions from more than 300 experts around the show floor and on the main stage throughout the weekend. Popular green thumb andOrlando Sentinel columnist Tom MacCubbin and nationally-syndicated home design columnist Marni Jameson are among the presenters (visit www.OrlandoHomeShow.com for a complete listing of presentation times).

From energy-saving devices to automation and security, guests can see the latest technology, products and gadgets available today in The Smart Home, constructed right on the show floor by Universal Contracting.

There’s no better place than at the Orlando Home Show to shop, compare and save on a wide variety of home improvement products and services in one location. Show producers have done all of the legwork to identify a variety ofFeatured Products and Services, from an aromatherapy system that uses air conditioning to distribute fragrances throughout the home, to easily-installed and interchangeable kitchen backsplashes, to versatile cookers that do it all: slow roasting, steaming, smoking and grilling. Guests can explore 300 exhibit booths, plus enter into contest and prize drawings.

Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m, and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are available at the door, and are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (60+; this discount is ONLY valid at the door and no other discounts apply), $5 for students 13-18 (ID required, only valid at the door), and free for children 12 years and younger.  Advance tickets can be purchased online for a $3 discount off full-price $10 admission at www.OrlandoHomeShow.com.  Convenient on-site parking is available adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center off Universal Boulevard, and is $8 per car with valid Florida ID.

For more information, visit www.OrlandoHomeShow.com, or call 877-871-SHOW (7469).  The Central Florida Home & Garden Show  and its springtime sister show, the Central Florida Home & Garden Show (March 22-24, 2013) are both produced by Marketplace Events.

Get celebrity tips, home trends, exhibitor discounts, opportunities to win tickets and more by connecting with the show onFacebook and Twitter (@FloridaHomeShow).

About Marketplace Events:

Marketplace Events produces 31 consumer home shows in 20 markets across North America that collectively attract 14,000 exhibitors, 1 million attendees and another 1 million unique web visitors annually. For more information, visit www.marketplaceevents.com.

XBOX 360 Review “LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7”

Developer: Traveller’s Tales
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platform: XBOX 360
Genre: Action-adventure
Mode: Single-player, Multiplayer

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this game, honestly. I have played both the “LEGO Indiana Jones” and “LEGO Star Wars” series and loved them both, and I was really looking forward to playing another one in the series. Sadly this one fell short of my expectations.

For the most part the game sticks to the normal genre of the LEGO games franchise with great graphics and characters. However when it came to the most important part of the game, like navigation and interaction with game pieces…that has changed a lot. Gone are the days of the simple click and move. You know how to focus on an object before interacting with it, sometimes having to drag it around. The worst part is having to put LEGO pieces together to build a bridge or set of stairs to move on to the next stage. I spent a good bit of time on the first set of stairs just trying to get the pieces together the way they were suggested to go.  I found myself settling on whatever I was able to use to jump up to the next stage. So it became very frustrating overall.

The story it’s self sticks very strictly to the books, which I am sure fans will love.  However if you haven’t read the books or seen the movies I could see where a lot of the story line could be lost on you, as well as a vast majority of the jokes.  I found the sub par navigation way too annoying and very quickly into the game I lost interest. I wish LEGO had demanded more strict guidelines for continuity, as I enjoyed being able to get immersed in game play with the two previous games in the series. Perhaps I was rather spoiled with the concept of being able to just pick up the controller and jump right in like my prior experiences.

If you are able to get through the navigation challenge and through the game I still recommend it. The LEGO games are adorable, entertaining, and fun for all ages. The ability to even play as a team with others online is a fantastic option, one of which I enjoyed immensely in the past. Then there is the thousands of interactive objects on each map, as well as numerous fun puzzles to get through. As for me I will perhaps attempt it again another time and hopefully then have a better experience with it.