The Dark Knight Rises

I couldn't wait to see the final chapter in the Batman trilogy featuring Christian Bale as the Dark Knight. Where would his story go? Could he recover from some very deep wounds - emotionally more than physical? Would Batman find his happy ending? The movie is pretty good, and I felt satisfied with the end, though not very surprise with of the turns the film takes. The minuses overall are few, among them is the film's length — nearly 3 hours. And there were some character issues, such as a disjointed coming together of two people. But the visual effects are great. If you like things getting blown up, it's pretty awesome. You also get some more of the lore of Batman and the League of Shadows, which makes me want to watch the first film again. I'm certain my teen son and his friends will go multiple times just for the action - there's lots, maybe too much for some. It's not a bad date night movie either, not in the romantic sense, but rather for the discussion you'll have after about tortured souls and emotions...OK, explosions, too. My grade: B-. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language.

ParaNorman VIP pass giveaway

I've got three (3) VIP passes to give away to the upcoming animated film ParaNorman. These passes allow a total of four people in your family to attend.

The movie comes from the makers of Coraline, and is considered a zombie comedy. It's about a boy, Norman, who must use his ability to speak with the dead to save his town from an ancient curse, a hoard of invading zombies, and their own small-mindedness. It features the voice talents of Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Anna Kendrick (Twilight series), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Leslie Mann (Knocked Up). The film is rated PG for scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language.

The official rules are posted on my Movie Mama blog. Essentially, send an email to timestarvedmom@gmail.com with the subject line PARANORMAN VIP SCREENING PASSES GIVEAWAY. In the email, include your name, city shown on your driver's license and a phone number between now and 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 3 for a chance to be randomly selected winner to be selected on or about Aug. 4). The screening is at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 16, 2012, at the AMC Arizona Center 24, 565 N. Third St., Phoenix. Winners need to arrive by 6:30 p.m. to check in with the movie promoters. Instructions for entering in official rules

I encourage you to like my Facebook pages: Time-Starved Mom and Movie Mama blog to stay on top of giveaways and my movie reviews.

Paranorman opens Friday, August 17. Here's a peek at the trailer:

Paranorman VIP Passes Official Rules

PARANORMAN VIP Screening Passes Giveaway Official Rules By entering for a chance to be randomly selected from all valid entries in this giveaway, you agree to these official rules: 1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. 2. Eligibility. The Time-Starved Mom/Movie Mama blog ParaNorman VIP Screening Passes Sweepstakes is open to residents of the State of Arizona who are 18 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of Time-Starved Mom/Movie Mama blog, Barclay Communications and each of their respective affiliated companies, subsidiaries, advertising or promotional agencies, and other agents, and the immediate family members of, and any persons domiciled with such employees, are not eligible. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Google, Gmail, Blogspot or Twitter. 3. Entry. Enter by sending an email between 8:00 a.m. P.S.T. July 17, 2012, and 11:59 p.m. P.S.T. August 3, 2012, with the subject line “ParaNorman VIP Screening Passes Giveaway” to timestarvedmom@gmail.com. To be considered a valid entry, the email must include your full name, city listed on your driver’s license, and daytime phone number to reach you if needed in relationship to this giveaway (i.e. Jane Garcia of Tempe, 480-555-5555). Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, incomplete or misdirected entries. Only one email entry per person. Multiple entries by one person using other email addresses will be disqualified. Winner will be chosen at random on or about Aug. 4, 2012. 4. Prizes and Odds. Three (3) winners will be placed on July 16 VIP screening list for ParaNorman. The screening takes place at 7 p.m. on July 16, 2012, at AMC Arizona Center 24, 565 N. Third St., Phoenix, AZ. Winner may bring three (3) guests; the entire party must arrive together. Travel arrangements and cost of travel associated with attending the screening is the sole responsibility of the winner. Winner must arrive at AMC Arizona Center no later than 6:30 p.m. July 16 to claim their seats and bring photo identification to the screening. Failure to arrive on time may result in loss of your seats. Approximate value of the prize is $0. Screening passes are often available for free on a variety of websites. Holding a VIP screening voucher and/or being on the VIP list has no additional monetary value. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. 5. Winner Notification and Acceptance. Winner will be notified by email and/or phone number listed on email entry on or about Aug. 4, 2012. Please check junk mail, in case the prize announcement is inadvertently delivered there. If selected winner cannot be reached after three attempts, including original notification attempt, such person will be disqualified. Winner's failure to open prize announcement email before the prize deadline and follow acceptance rules will result in forfeiture of the prize. Winners may waive their right to receive prizes. Prizes are nonassignable and nontransferable. To accept the prize, winner must respond to prize notification email and follow instructions for accepting prize on the email by no later than 11:59 p.m. P.S.T. August 8, 2012. Winner's contact information will be forwarded to Barclay Communications on Aug. 9, which oversees the VIP list for the Paranorman screening. Winner also must present valid photo identification, such as a driver's license, when arriving at AMC Arizona Center 24 by no later than 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 16, 2012. No substitutions allowed. Winners are solely responsible for reporting and payment of any taxes on prizes. Winner will be required to complete a liability and publicity release form (except where prohibited by law), which must be returned via email by 11:59 p.m. August 8, 2012. Failure to sign and return the affidavit or release by August 8, or to comply with any term or condition of these Official Rules, may result in a winner's disqualification, the forfeiture of his or her interest in the prize, and the award of the prize to an alternate winner except where prohibited. Participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes entrant's consent to the publication of his or her name announcing his or her winning for any commercial or promotional purpose, without limitation or further compensation. Prizes not claimed by eligible winners in accordance with these Official Rules will not be awarded and will remain the property of Sponsors. For prize winner list after August 17, 2012, email timestarvedmom@gmail.com. Please include subject line: Paranorman VIP Screening Winner. 6. Participation. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, incomplete, late or misdirected entries. Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify persons found tampering with or otherwise abusing any aspect of this Sweepstakes as solely determined by Sponsors. In the event the Sweepstakes is compromised by tampering or other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsors, which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper operation of the Sweepstakes, Sponsors reserve the right in its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes. Should the Sweepstakes be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, Sponsors reserve the right to award prizes based on the entries received before the termination date. 7. Limitations of Liability. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrant agrees that (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Sweepstakes, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action, and entrant waives his or her right to a jury trial for such disputes, claims, and causes of action; (2) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses. 8. Construction. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of any contestant and Sponsor, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of Arizona, or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Arizona. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. If any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the valid or enforceable provision was not contained therein. 9. General Release. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants release Yvette Armendariz, who blogs as Time-Starved Mom and Movie Mama, Barclay Communications, any other promotional sponsors, and each of their respective affiliated companies, directors, officers, employees, representatives, partners and agents from any liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Sweepstakes or with the acceptance, possession or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light). 10. Sponsors. The Time-Starved Mom ParaNorman VIP Screening Passes giveaway is sponsored by Time-Starved Mom/Movie Mama blog and Barclay Communications (collectively, "Sponsors"), whose decisions regarding the selection of winners and all other aspects of the Sweepstakes shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsors will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Sweepstakes. If you have any questions regarding this Contest, please contact Yvette Armendariz at timestarvedmom@gmail.com.