Check out TV show CHICAGO FIRE on the big screen free

It's not every day that you get to see a TV show on the big screen — and definitely not six days before it airs for the first time on the little screen. But Universal Television and Wolf Films, which are producing new thrilling drama CHICAGO FIRE, are showcasing it via a private screening to get people buzzing about the new NBC TV show.

The promotional screening will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 4, at AMC Arizona Center. I have 100 pairs of passes via this gofobo link. Get several girlfriends together and go out! Just click to get on the site. You need a login, but registration is free and relatively simple. :)

More about the show:

From renowned, Emmy Award-winning executive producer Dick Wolf ("Law & Order" brand) and creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, the writing team behind "3:10 to Yuma," comes the high-octane drama "Chicago Fire," - an edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America's noblest professions. For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating. These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death.

The pressure to perform on such a high level has a way of taking a personal toll, sometimes putting team members from the Truck and the specially trained Rescue Squad at odds with each other. Despite any differences, this is an extended family, and when it's "go time," everyone inside Firehouse 51 knows no other way than to lay it all on the line for each other. When a tragedy claims one of their own, there's plenty of guilt and blame to go around. Lt. Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer, "House"), in charge of the Truck, tries to carry on, but butts heads with the brash Lt. Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney, "The Vampire Diaries") of the Rescue Squad - and each blames the other for their fallen team member. Adding to the turmoil, Casey, unbeknownst to his colleagues, is in the midst of a separation from Hallie (Teri Reeves, "Three Rivers").

The firehouse also includes Battalion Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker, "Oz"), a fireman's fireman who is confronted by important personal decisions, paramedics Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund, "The Good Wife") and Leslie Shay (Lauren German, "Hawaii Five-O"), who share a close bond and team together to face some of the most harrowing situations imaginable, Peter Mills (Charlie Barnett, "Law & Order: SVU"), an academy graduate who is the latest generation in a family of firefighters, and Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg, "Sex and the City"), a seasoned veteran who loses his home to foreclosure and now must uproot his family to move in with his in-laws.

In addition to Wolf, Haas and Brandt, executive producers also include Matt Olmstead ("Breakout Kings"), Joe Chappelle ("The Wire"), Danielle Gelber and Peter Jankowski ("Law & Order" brand). Haas and Brandt wrote the pilot, which was directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff ("Homeland").

The first episode of CHICAGO FIRE premieres at 9 p.m. Wednesday, October 10, on NBC, Channel 12 in Phoenix.

Enjoy!

Ruby Sparks thoughtful & funny

Totally enjoyed Ruby Sparks because it's funny & thought provoking. I'm even debating taking my 12 year-old daughter for the incredible discussion we could have after. I'm just hung up on one little part where two characters talk about BJs. I plan to discuss that more in my Time-Starved Mom blog.

For a romantic comedy, it's not the typical blend. It comes with true questions about relationships and expectations. Interesting that a female wrote the script.

Essentially the film is about a writer (Paul Dano) who found early fame with his first book; he then hits a dry spell. With the help of his therapist, he begins writing again and develops a character that he comes to love. He can't stop writing about Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan) and him, and then she's suddenly real. But when she starts getting a mind of her own, he tries changing her. You don't always get what you wish for is a key theme.

Kazan writes the screenplay, and the film is directed by the duo behind Little Miss Sunshine, another good, poignant and funny movie. Ruby Sparks also stars Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas and Chris Messina.

Rated R for language including some sexual references, and for some drug use. My grade: A-

The Babymakers

Making babies is potentially quite funny. There's lots of material for laughs, especially if you don't mind crossing into the politically incorrect and raunchy territory. I'm good with both, if done right.

The Babymakers (Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn) didn't do it for me. Oh, there was some funny material, and offensive material, too. But the delivery of the potentially funny stuff was just bad.

The plot is essential guy and girl, married three years, decide it's time to have a baby. They then start doing it EVERYWHERE. Months later, sex is a chore. Maybe something is wrong? Hmmm, well he's shooting blanks, but he didn't before. So he recruits help for stealing bad his sperm from a sperm band from the days he was potent. Funny, maybe...but then.

I wish I had looked at the director credit so I'd know what I was in for. Jay Chandrasekhar is known for films Beerfest and SuperTroopers. I mostly saw bad reviews for these raunchy comedies.

Anyway, this film offers stereotypes of the Indian guys (incidentally the director plays that role) and Chinese babies, female sex fantasies (including a turn to bestiality porn - ick!), body part jokes, sperm jokes (and a gross out scene at a sperm bank), etc. They will offend some, potentially many. I'm not easily offended, but some of these jokes were plain dumb.

Sadly, as the actors delivered all these one-liners, it seemed as though they would crack up mid scene. Somehow they supressed their laughter. I just wanted to laugh.

Rated R for crude and sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use. My grade: D-

The trailer:

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: