Dadbloggers Archives - Page 9 of 17

Godzilla vs. Bryan Cranston

May 17, 2014 by Vincent Daly

I admit it. News of a new Godzilla movie starring Bryan Cranston, the man who brought us the superbly acted iconic Walter White from Breaking Bad, created an off the charts wave of expectations for yours truly as well as fans of the actor and the world renowned Japanese monster. Rarely does a movie meet or exceed an overzealous level of hype. The intense movie trailers alone had fans frothing at the mouth with eager anticipation. Yet Godzilla (2014), despite a muddled story line coupled with peculiar casting and acting choices, almost hits the mark. Almost.

The Amazing Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy

May 7, 2014 by Vincent Daly

When one thinks of super hero movies the first thing that comes to mind is not love stories. That’s the province of “chick flicks”, the antithesis of action movies geared towards male teens. And yet “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” dives head first into the depth of the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. The action that ensues throughout the story becomes superfluous, almost an aforethought. At the core of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, Peter and Gwen’s love for one another elevates the stakes for Spider-Man more than any super villain could possibly muster. Fear not though Spidey fans, the latest iteration of Spider-Man to hit the big screen may arguably turn out to be the best one yet.

Message from Stan Lee about Free Comic Book Day

May 2, 2014 by CuteMonster Staff

Free Conic Book Day
This year Free Comic Book Day falls on Saturday May 3, 2014. The annual tradition has always been a favorite of ours here at CuteMonster HQ. The opportunity to share or introduce the love of reading to children by way of comic books can be an enormous boon to fostering a lifetime of literacy. Stan Lee, creator of Spider-Man and countless other iconic super heroes from the Marvel universe, has provided a special video message to commemorate the occasion.

2014 New York Auto Show: Focus on Evolution over Innovation

April 24, 2014April 23, 2014 by Vincent Daly

Anyone attending the 2014 New York Auto Show at the Jacobs Javits Convention Center will be greeted by hundreds of gleaming, exciting, and exquisite looking automobiles. Yet these same attendees will be hard pressed to find any futuristic offerings. Auto manufacturers have opted to feature refinement of exterior styling as well as improving efficiency of the early 20th century technology based gas combustion engine. The auto industry’s emphasis on evolution rather than innovation reflects a pragmatic cost conscious approach to car manufacturing which generally frowns upon risk taking. Even the highly touted new all-electric BMW i3 merely achieves a modest range of 80 to 100 miles. We are witnessing the automotive era of playing it safe.

Captain America becomes the Hero We Need

April 12, 2014 by Vincent Daly

Chris Evans returns to reprise the role of Captain America in the sequel titled Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a smartly written movie that’s part thriller as well as action flick. Robert Redford joins the cast adding a maturity and gravitas that sets the tone of the story. Gritty, violent, and dark, action fans will rejoice as Captain America’s super power abilities are fully showcased in his attempt to untangle a web of lies stretching back to his own past.

5 Ways Little Kids are like Hippies

March 26, 2014March 24, 2014 by Vincent Daly

In general, being an adult means taking on responsibility. It also includes adhering to a certain level of appropriate behavior at home and in public. Kids, on the other hand, are blank slates. Decorum? Nope. Rules? No thanks. Fun? Yes please and keep it coming. They thrive on new experiences and revel in the joy of it all. Freedom baby. Pure unADULTerated freedom. That’s their credo. Little kids are like natural born hippies. Don’t believe me? Check out my list of 5 ways that prove it.

2014 NY Toy Fair Best of Show

March 26, 2014March 17, 2014 by Vincent Daly

It’s been several weeks since the 2014 New York Toy Fair. We’ve taken our time to thoroughly assess the sheer tonnage of new toys presented at the epicenter of the toy industry universe. Make no mistake, exhibitors compete for attention with the ferocity of hungry, hungry hippos. Create the right mix of products and win the hearts and minds of millions. Fail and end up with heavily discounted toys at local 99 cents stores. Given the stakes at hand, CuteMonster.com is happy to announce the winners of the 2014 NY Toy Fair Best of Show.

3 Dads make a cool toy car company: Introducing Modarri

March 26, 2014February 21, 2014 by Vincent Daly

Discovering Modarri, a new toy car company, was truly pure luck. In my experience, roaming the aisles of the New York Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Convention Center can be somewhat of a labyrinth. The sheer number of exhibitors seems to grow exponentially each year causing tight squeezes and ultimately overlapping booths among smaller vendors and start-ups looking to attract the attention of the press and buyers alike. Thankfully social media has emerged as a useful tool to navigate unchartered waters. A random tweet made on Twitter announced that Modarri, a new toy car company, had reached and surpassed its Kickstarter goal. After checking out their Kickstarter page I was intrigued to meet the 3 Dads leading the start-up, all of whom are phenomenally successful toy industry veterans dedicated to creating and selling beautiful, functional, durable toys.

Parenthood does not mean the end of Romance

March 26, 2014February 14, 2014 by Vincent Daly

I still vividly remember the day I first set eyes on my wife. I was a chronically late high school senior which meant I routinely spent time in late detention. Little did I realize my penchant for disregarding time would provide a pivotal moment of serendipity. My wife, then a member of the high school band attending practice, had exited the school at nearly the precise moment late detention had let out. Her blonde hair along with her light pink jacket immediately caught my attention. She moved with purpose. Whatever teenage angst I had been harboring that day immediately melted away. She was different. Little did I know she’d change my life forever.