Diana -
It's the summer of 1983 and my dad took my cousin and me to Greece for the summer. I was 15. Our days consisted of mostly going to the beach, site seeing, hanging with the neighborhood kids playing soccer in the streets, listening to music on my faux Walkman and for me...reading. In Greece the country basically shuts down around 2-3 P.M. Till around 5-6 P.M. Everyone naps. The shops close. Streets are quiet. (Even growing up in California all my life, my family still held onto this tradition. I could never get into the habit, but you had to keep quiet...thus I read a lot.) Before we would go to the beach we would stop at the local shops and get a loaf fresh bread, tomatoes, grapes and feta cheese for our snacks. I would peruse the wire book kiosk that was on the sidewalk. While looking at all the books (many in English) I came across a title that intrigued me. The Princess Bride by William Goldman.
Thus begins my love for this book. It wasn't like any other book I had read. William Goldman begins the tale with letting you know that he is editing S. Morgenstern's (a fictional author) book about a fictional kingdom of Florin and that his, Goldman's, editing (or as he puts it "the good parts version") and thoughts will be in red when he interrupts the story. His father had read him the book as a child and that he actually found the book to be boring, thus he decided to create an abridged version.
I devoured that book in one day! I read it over and over again the entire time I was in Greece and again when I got home a few times a year. I read it again just about two years ago. I still have my copy from Greece but unfortunately it was so well loved that the cover fell off a few decades ago.
The movie. What can I say about it? It is a really cute version of the book but only just. There is so much missing, through no fault of Rob Reiner since there was much to cover in the book. For one thing you do not get the background of Fezzik and Inigo. Why did Inigo have scars on his face? What happened to his father, how did his death by The Six Fingered Man come about? How did Inigo and Fezzik meet? You don't get to see the incredible journey down into the Pit of Despair (or the Zoo of Death in the book, where Humperdinck keeps incredibly dangerous animals) by Fezzik and Inigo and how they fought their way down each level facing different perils to get to The Man In Black and The Machine. You don't get to see Fezzik as a child and his struggles. You don't get as many details of Westley and The Dread Pirate Roberts. You don't get to go into the Thieves Quarters for too long or the Fire Swamp. Still, all in all it does capture much of the book's charm and I love watching it. Does the fact that I know so much more about it because I read the book first come into play? Do I enjoy it more by having read the book because I know so much more about the characters and back stories? I think so.
You Can Read The Princess Bride For Free With Your Amazon Prime Membership!
 Welcome to our Thursday Music Feature! This week Jennifer opens up about how a song has helped her get through some really tough times. I know a lot of people are going through things at the moment and maybe this can help them too. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments and if you have songs that help you - please share them! Jennifer -I’ve been through hell and back. Yes, this article is a little different from what I usually write but I recently found a song that is starting to help me get through what I never thought I could move on from. That song is "Carry On" by Fun. When I first heard it, I was amazed that this song explains everything that I’m feeling with the loss of a very special person. Now I’m no music connoisseur, but this song made me stop and cry when I thought I couldn’t cry anymore. The lyrics really spoke to me - "I've never been through hell like that", and I haven’t until I lost someone who meant the world to me but just like this song says you have to "carry on, carry on"! And that’s just what they’d want me to do. It’s still not easy, but when Dave and Susan said some songs can help you get through things that you may be going through, they were definitely right, so I wanted to share this for anyone else that might need it. I hope it helps. “If you're lost and alone, or you're sinking like a stone Carry on May your path be the sound of your feet upon the ground Carry on” Melanie -Firstly I want to thank Jenn for being so open about stuff that has been going on. I know how difficult it has been and I really hope that this can help others too. I have posted the entire song lyrics below. Even if you find the song is not for you, the lyrics are really powerful. Carry On - Full Lyrics
Well, I woke up to the sound of silence, the guns Were cutting like knives in a fist fight And I found you with a bottle of wine Your head in the curtains and heart like the Fourth of July You swore and said we are not We are not shining stars This I know, I never said we are Though I've never been through Hell like that I've closed enough windows to know you can never look back If you're lost and alone, or you're sinking like a stone Carry on May your path be the sound of your feet upon the ground Carry on Carry on, carry on So I met up with some friends at the edge of the night At a bar off 75 And we talked and talked about how our parents will die All our neighbors and wives But I'd like to think I can cheat it all To make up for the times I've been cheated on And it's nice to know when I was left for dead I was found and now I don't roam these streets I am not the ghost you want of me If you're lost and alone or you're sinking like a stone Carry on May your path be the sound of your feet upon the ground, and Carry on Whoa, my head is on fire, but my legs are fine After all, they are mine Lay your clothes down on the floor Close the door, hold the phones Show me how no one's ever gonna stop us now (...) 'Cause we are, we are shining stars We are invincible, we are who we are On our darkest day when we're miles away So we'll come, we will find our way home If you're lost and alone or you're sinking like a stone Carry on May your path be the sound of your feet upon the ground, and Carry on Oh-oh-whoa, oh-oh-oh-whoa Oh, oh, oh-whoa-oh, whoa-oh Oh-whoa, oh-oh-oh-whoa Oh, oh, oh-whoa-oh, whoa-oh No one's ever gonna stop us now No one's ever, no one's ever gonna, no one's ever gonna stop us now No one's ever, ever, no one's ever gonna stop us, no one's ever No one's ever gonna stop us now Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Nathaniel Joseph Ruess / Jack Antonoff / Jeff Bhasker / Andrew Dost Carry On lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Sony/atv Songs Llc, Way Above Music, Fbr Music, Bearvon Music, Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music, Rough Art Win It Wednesday - Sister Act 1&2 Feature by Jennifer Rhodes Cleere & Melanie Newton PLUS Giveaway!1/27/2021
Jennifer -
When you think about movies with nuns or church, you probably think "BORING!".... right? .... WRONG! Well, not these two movies anyway. I’m talking about "Sister Act" and "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" with Whoopi Goldberg.
In the first movie a lounge singer named Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi) ends up having to run from her ex-boyfriend who wants her dead. When she goes to the police, they stick her in the last place that they think she’ll be found.. A CONVENT! A Vegas lounge singer stuck in a convent having to at least TRY to pretend to be a nun. Oh and most of the nuns aren't allowed to know making it even crazier! Plus she gets a new name becoming Sister Mary Clarence. At first she’s not happy, and neither is the reverend mother (played by Maggie Smith). And Maggie, I mean the reverend mother, has a plan - she sticks her in the choir where she thinks Deloris will cause no trouble, and she was right! She helps the nuns become the choir they always had the potential to be. No spoilers - but let me tell you that choir is amazing.
The sequel "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" had me a bit worried. We all know sequels aren’t usually up to par with the first, but this one is in my opinion. Deloris's friends, now teachers in a school, end up going all the way to Vegas to find her because they need her help. They want her to come back to the convent and help her - as a music teacher for the kids. So of course, she helps them, with results far beyond what anyone imagined. To say more would be serious spoilers so I’ll just say if you haven’t seen them yet, then what are you waiting for?
Jennifer Rhodes Cleere met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Melanie -
Many of you that know me know that I am definitely not a fan of organized religion. I don't do the church thing, I don't care for the mass worship stuff in general, but these movies are so much more than that!
This is a perfect example to me of how music transcends so many things that we deal with. Packed with an all-star cast Sister Act brings us Whoopi Goldberg facing off with Maggie Smith. I mean never mind the bad guys, seriously you could watch this JUST for these two. Absolutely stellar performances from both, and the rest of the cast holds up too! Filled with a mix of truly feel-good moments, and a mix of comedy moments, this is a movie that always makes me smile!
As for Sister Act 2, I agree with Jenn that the sequel actually does live up to the first. Adding a young Lauren Hill to the cast, we get a new story, and more music, but the same core feelings that you get in the first one. It's one of those movies that just makes me smile. Now, almost 20 years later, there is finally talk of Sister Act 3 with the Disney channel! I for one, will definitely be watching it! Be sure to scroll down for the giveaway but first, check out our top 4 songs from the movies and let us know if YOU have a favorite!
Favorite Songs From The Movies - Give Them A Click - If these don't make you smile - well I guess you don't smile lol
My God (picked by Jenn from Sister Act) I Will Follow You (picked by Melanie from Sister Act) Joyful, Joyful (A joint pick from Sister Act 2)
And Now For The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Feel GoodPrize Pack" featuring Sister Act 1 &2 DVD set, with feel good stickers sent in by Jennifer Rhodes Cleere, and a SIGNED COPY of The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - What Song Do You Hear / Sing That Makes You Feel Good? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What you ask for will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on February 6th (and then posted here on the blog as well on Feb 7th. Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Welcome to our Thursday Music Feature! This week Susan reviews the new You Me At Six Album!
Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
You Me at Six formed in Surrey in 2004. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Josh Franceschi guitarists Max Helyer and Chris Miller, bassist Matt Barnes, and drummer Dan Flint. Anyone who has read any of my music articles, or listened to my many playlists, knows I have a soft spot for unique voices, and I love that gravely tone to Josh's voice. I think he is so versatile, where he can do a big ballad with that powerful voice, like with songs, Crash, Stay with Me, Take on the World, Spell it Out, and new song Glasgow, to rock heavy songs like Bite my Tongue, Loverboy, Save it for the Bedroom, Underdog and new songs like Suckapunch, MAKEMEFEELALIVE, and What's it Like.
While it seemed for a time that YMAS had kinda got lost with their sound, some albums less than great, there was always a few good tracks that were absolute hits. I think after dealing with a lot of things life throws at you, the band finally put out an album that packs a punch no matter what your tastes are.
Suckapunch is a mix of all kinds of songs and sounds and I've had it on repeat for days!
Josh spoke recently that he went into writing and recording Suckapunch like it was going to be the bands final release and it shows, because they all put everything into this album, the lyrics are sometimes hard hitting and you can relate to the pain obvious in some of the songs. I really do hope that, now that YMAS has this matured sound, that they decide they can do more in the future!
Suckapunch is an album filled with exceptional vocals, heavy riffs and even a song that I would love to do a remix of for the dancefloor!
I also would love to see the song Glasgow, which is so beautiful and is now the Theme song for the last book in my Sanguine Crown series, to have like an alternative version, featuring Hayley Williams from Paramore...so YMAS or Hayley, if you read this, DO IT!!!!
Standout tracks for me: Glasgow ( Fave!) Voicenotes, Suckapunch, Kill the Mood, Finish What I Started and Beautiful Way.
Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
Jenn
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be human yet stay young forever? Well this movie kind of tells you that...but with a twist. It’s about two women who marry the same guy, not at the same time of course, but at different intervals because he’s only interested in beautiful, young women. Yes, the movie I’m talking about is Death Becomes Her.
When I first found this movie, I wasn’t so sure I’d enjoy it, but boy was I wrong. It takes the "I want to be young forever" and turns it around. Yes, these two women got their wish but a wish that came at a horrible price. One I’m betting most people wouldn’t want to pay because I know I definitely wouldn’t.
It also teaches that inner beauty is always better than outer beauty. This movie is older so hopefully you’ve already seen it, but if you somehow haven’t I highly recommend it, if not for anything else but just for the amazing message it has at the end.
Jennifer Rhodes Cleere met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Melanie -
I love a black comedy and when you have Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, and Goldie Hawn in staring roles, you know you are in for a treat. Who wants to live forever? There’s ALWAYS a con with that question, but unlike most creature transformations, this movie takes a rather different approach, the biggest catch being THERE’S NO SUPERNATURAL HEALING!
Throw in Isabella Rossellini for a little added glam, and this really is a recipe for success. I really don't think there is another movie I could compare it too, but I definitely feel that it is a gem that is often overlooked.
Definitely not a movie that takes itself too seriously, but as Jenn already said, a strong message about beauty coming from within! (Also not to take stuff for granted!) If you haven't seen it - you should!
And Now For The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Prize Pack" featuring Death Becomes her on DVD sent in by Jennnifer Rhodes Cleere, along with some Horror Stickers, and a copy of Plague of Witches from the Melanie's Muses Prize collection! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Would You Want To Live Forever? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What you ask for will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on January 31st 2021 (and then posted here on the blog as well on Feb 1st. Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
With the late 90's reigniting and resurrecting the horror film, the early 2000's brought another successful franchise into the horror realm. That is the "Final Destination" series. It almost took on a completely different look. Death was originally written to have an actual on-screen presence instead of something a little more mystical and ominous. Luckily, they went a different way. Personally, I don't think that would have worked as well if they hadn’t.
Final Destination (2000). After having a premonition of the plane exploding, Alex de-boards the aircraft and is joined by a few others-- some voluntarily, some not. As they are stuck in the airport, being forced to catch the next plane, they see the plane explode. They are saved by his vison-- at least temporarily. Death has a plan and Alex interfered with that plan. So death plans to take the lives that he saved, one by one.
Final Destination 2 (2003). A new group escapes death by avoiding a pile up on the road in a traffic accident. Once again, death must come after them to claim the lives that were saved. Melanie - Final Destination 2 Scarred me for Life. 
Final Destination 3 (2006). This group avoid death in an amusement park on a roller coaster. An interesting concept was the "Choose Their Fate" feature on the DVD. Personally, I would have liked to see it explored a little bit more. As it is, most cases it just chooses between a quick death vs a slower, more suspenseful death. I would have liked them to use more time and shoot alternate footage so you can choose who the survivors of the film are. Basically have 5-6 different versions of the film, where each of the characters (or pair of characters) has a chance to live until the end. That was my first thought when I saw the feature listed on the DVD. So, while it was fun to see a few variations, I was a little let down not to see it fully explored to its potential. (Side note-- but I do understand what that would have done to the budget and filming time just for some "extra footage".)
The Final Destination (2009, aka Final Destination 4). First off, I hate that title. It’s too similar to the original "Final Destination". They are just adding "the" to the beginning of it. It could have been somewhat clever if it was the final movie in the franchise, but the box office spoke loud and clear and they made another. Anyway, this movie was shot in 3D and the plot involves escaping death at a raceway after a premonition of an accident that escalates, causing havoc, mayhem, and mass casualties. A small group survives and death has to reclaim them. Some cool 3D effects to see in the theater though.
Final Destination 5 (2011). This is set on a corporate retreat with work colleagues. Same basic premise. Yadda yadda yadda. But hey, we don't watch horror films and their sequels for originality. Do we? This franchise in particular is known for its unique and elaborate kills and some suspenseful kill sequences-- the gymnast sequence and the salon sequence come to mind especially. Always kept you waiting, knowing something was going to happen but you didn't know when. Just when you thought it was safe, BOOM, it wasn't! Some are not for the faint of heart but are done very well. This film is nice little wrap-up to the series. I, for one, did not see the ending coming. Although, there were some subtle clues, and one nagging question I had while watching it the first time but shhh, no spoilers for this one, sweetie. The details about a possible sixth installment in 2020 are scarce. It’s been called a reimagining or a reboot. I guess we won't really know where it falls in line with the rest of the series until we see it-- if its ever finished. Death may have claimed it
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
And Now For The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Prize Pack" Beauty Horror Coloring Book, Horror Charm Bracelet, & Horror Stickers, sent in by Jennnifer Rhodes Cleere, and some things from the Melanie's Muses Prize collection -including a Carrie DVD sent in by Ali Foy, and a "Horror Head" sent in by John Patrick Kennedy (Complete with the Amazon note he included). For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Telling Us If You Had Been On The Plane - Would You Have Stayed On or Would You Have Wanted To Get Off! (I would have been off that plane quicker than you can imagine!) The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What you ask for will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on January 24th 2021 (and then posted here on the blog as well on the 25th. Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Jennifer -One of my childhood favorite shows ever was "Saved by the Bell". When I heard they were doing a reboot, my first thought was "No! Why?". However, after watching it, I liked how they did this and how the reboot had more diversity then the original.
Don’t get me wrong, the original will always have a special place in my heart, but the reboot is on a whole new level, and that’s good especially with what’s happening right now. The students of Bayside need to have their world thrown upside down. And that’s exactly what happens in the reboot. When students from a not so well funded school get sent there.
There’s a lot of throwbacks to the original, and even some original cast members show up. The new principal of Bayside will never take Belding's place from the original, but he’s a close second. You can see how much he cares for all his students, just like Belding did. So, whether it’s the original or reboot, "Saved by the Bell" is definitely a show that’s not to be missed.
Jennifer Rhodes Cleere met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Susan -
Saved by the bell was one of my fave shows growing up, one that made me really wish I could have gone to an American high school! I absolutely loved Zack and all his antics. I haven't watched the reboot, not sure if I will, but the OG Saved by the Bell will always hold a special place in my heart!
Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE Melanie -
Fun Fact - our black lab was called Zack (because of Saved by the Bell), because it was one of the few names that Greg and I actually said the same. (We originally liked "Chance" - Ask us on live how THAT went lol). Like Susan, I haven't watched the reboot, but the original, and even The College Years, were huge for me growing up. This show is also the reason that I thought American Cheerleaders often wore their cheer uniform in school, well that and Heathers! Oh and they had that whole episode where they became famous and were in a band! That was the dream!
On a more serious note, it's interesting to read about the students being introduced from a less funded school. The original did attempt to deal wth some issues, but not always in the most effective way (and yes, some were down right problematic), but reading that Jenn loves it, and I KNOW how much she loved the original, definitely makes me think I will give it a shot. (Especially as S2 is confirmed. We all know I am the queen of the one season wonders!)
Click the picture below to start watching Saved By The Bell on Peacock For Free!
*** You Can Sign Up For A Free Peacock Account. With the Free account you have access to the Pilot episode. Paid packages start at $4.99 a month (with commercials) and come with a 7 day free trial at time of posting *** 
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
Are you excitable? Def Leppard fans sure were by the time 1987's "Hysteria" had been released in August. It had been 4 long years since their previous release, "Pyromania". After that long, fans wonder if/when they come back and what they will sound like. The band wonders if their fans will forget about them. Most bands only take about 2 years between releases but Def Leppard had a string of misfortunes that included 2 car accidents (the one infamous one resulting in Rick Allen losing his arm) and Joe Elliot getting the mumps. There were also reports of the whole record getting scrapped to start over at one point.
Mutt Lange was brought in because of his expertise to produce the would-be classic. They had a vision going in of what they wanted to create-- a rock version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller". They wanted a veritable masterpiece where any and every song could be a single. Of the 12 songs that made the record, 7 of them were released as singles/videos. That wasn't all the of their songs though. They have been writing and recording for 4 years-- on and off between hurdles. They started putting extra songs on the B-sides of the singles. Songs like "Ring of Fire", "Ride into the Sun", "Tear it Down" and "I Wanna Be Your Hero". They already had the songs completed so why not throw them on the singles. I'm actually surprised more bands don't do that, especially today. With stuff like iTunes and YouTube, you have extra songs you recorded but they didn't make the final cut. Throw a bunch on iTunes and sell them cheap or just toss them on YouTube.
No use in just having them sit around.
"Hysteria" also broke new ground for what fans can expect out of a new record. At the time, most new releases were roughly 10 songs, and totaling 40 minutes long. Def Leppard unleashed "Hysteria" with 12 songs and clocked in at 62:32. That's about 20 minutes longer than your average records by other bands. However, a few months later Dokken would push that limit a little further with "Back for the Attack" in November. That clocks in at just over 63 minutes. It would be become the threshold of expectation for the next 4 years until the likes of Guns N Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers each release 75-minute CDs, pushing the space limit of a single disc.
"Hysteria" would go on to sell 12 million copies in the US and combine for 16 million more in Canada, UK and Australia. I'd say that's a pretty good sign that the fans did not forget who they were. With the help of a smash hit single "Pour Some Sugar on Me", and MTV pushing the video every chance they got, I'd say they picked up a few new fans along the way too.
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries, breaking the rules, and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
Jenn -
Different things usually catch my eyes, whether it be movies or tv shows. I’m drawn into the unusual. The movie I want to talk about now is no exception, and that’s "Little Shop of Horrors". I’m sure we’ve all seen this movie by now and yes, it’s also a musical. Since I love musicals. I don’t mind. This movie is about Seymour and his love for Audrey and unusual plants. Walking down the street one day there’s solar eclipse and suddenly a strange plant appears, which he buys. Taking it to the flower shop, he names it Audrey II, and tries to get it to grow. As it starts to die, he can’t figure out what to do until he realizes Audrey II is alive, and needs blood to grow. That’s when the story gets interesting, but I’ll leave it there if you haven’t watched this wonderful classic yet. I hope I grabbed your attention and you will now check it out.
Jennifer Rhodes Cleere met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Dave -
What else can be said about the quirky little movie with a spectacular cast-- Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, Bill Murray! I made the mistake of going to the dentist after watching this movie. Not a good idea! The only thing left to say if the footage you probably didn't see.
Unless you are total movie buff like me and dig into special editions and bonus features, you may not know about the original ending of Little Shop of Horrors. It’s a shame too, because the original ending took a lot of work. Test audiences hated the ending so it ended up on the cutting room floor. It was back to the drawing board to rewrite and reshoot. The entire 23-minute version of the finale was scrapped. They wanted a happy ending and this was anything but happy. It was downright catastrophic. Audrey II attacked Audrey and her dying body is fed to the plant by Seymour. Seymour confronts Audrey II and is eaten alive. Tiny Audrey II's were replicated from cuttings and sold worldwide. Their global domination begins.
All the little Audrey II's are rising up and attacking people in their homes and on the streets. Terror ensues as the entire world is in chaos. Granted, this is very dark, especially for the times. But the time this must have taken to film all this and for it to not be seen for many years afterward is a crime. Remember, this was before CGI. All this was done with puppets and constructing miniatures. The end result looks amazing, especially for 1986. There is a director's cut Blu-ray available now if you enjoy dark endings. It is also listed separately as a bonus feature if you just want to see the amazing work the puppeteers had done.
Melanie here - Fun Fact - the Off Broadway Show AND an earlier 1960 film version have the original style ending! Also the alternate ending wasn't made available in any format until 2012!
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
And Now For The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Prize Pack" featuring Little Shop Of Horrors on DVD sent in by Jennnifer Rhodes Cleere, and some things from the Melanie's Muses Prize collection -including some awesome Roswell Alien stuff sent in by Amanda Horton, Postcard, Pin, Earrings, Stickers, and Tattoos (All randomly from the prize hoard) For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Telling Us What Would Be The ONE Thing That You Would Prefer NOT To Be In Your Own Shop Of Horrors? (Mine would be a ventriloquist dummy - Ever since Magic with Anthony Hopkins lol) The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What you ask for will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on January 17th 2021 (and then posted here on the blog as well on the 18th. Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Welcome to the spotlight lounge! We are thrilled to welcome Emily to the site with her first guest post - a review of Susan's latest release Wicked Game!
Don't forget to read all the way down to see details on how to enter the giveaway to win a paperback copy of Chaos Theory (or any other of Susan's books). 
Em's Review -
After finishing up another semester of school, I instantly caught up with my new favorite vampire series: The Sanguine Crown Series. Having read Butterfly Effect in one day, I had to get my hands on Wicked Game—another book that only took me one day to finish.
Susan Harris is a genius when it comes to creating a novel that is filled with drama, sadness, and romance, and Wicked Game is no different. Whether that is having a wedding, Ryan’s sarcastic comments, and a nod at my comment of Nickolai looking like Jax from Sons of Anarchy in my head, this book is definitely my favorite so far. I found myself laughing out loud and talking to myself constantly, and when I got to the end, I was sad to find out that I was going to have to wait for the next book in the series. Damn Susan and her cliffhangers! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Ryan is the feminist vampire badass that I have always craved. The feminist comments alone that Ryan makes about patriarchal norms is enough to have me snapping my fingers in agreement. Thank you, Susan, for creating this character and this series.
Em Newton is a full time student who loves to read books and watch tv in her free time. She loves feminist non-fiction books, as well as fiction books involving vampires or anything supernatural. Her current TV obsessions are Peaky Blinders and Criminal Minds. This is her first guest article for Melanie's Muses.
Not started the series yet? You can get book 1 for free PLUS when you catch up Burn Notice is already up to pre-order!
Any Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!) And Now For A Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER! Em will be giving away a paperback copy of Chaos Theory (or if you have Chaos Theory - any other paperback available from Susan's collection). The book will be sent directly from Amazon - and is available anywhere Amazon will send to. For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Telling Us "If You Watched The Vampire Diaries TV Show - and if you did who was your favorite character?" The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! Having watched or not watched does not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on January 17th 2021 (and then posted here on the blog as well on the 18th. Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
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