When an @Audi A8 picks you up to take you to the #movies it's going to be EPIC! @WolverineMovie #HughMamarazzi

As some of you may remember, many moons ago I worked as a film critic for a well known print publication (which shall remain nameless, to protect the innocent, namely ME). And I've done a lot of Press Screenings. In the beginning the Private Screening Rooms and Snacks were impressive (I started pretty young so often times I was the youngest journalist in the room), the Press Junkets and meeting the celebs were fun (I actually have a scrapbook with my clippings), but I think The Moms have finally finished creating a Movie Monster in me with their most recent Screening Experience!

Check out Team Butterfly peeking out from behind the passenger side of the 2014 Audi A8!

When an Audi A8 and a driver show up at your door to take you into the city for a film screening you know it's going to be EPIC!  First of all I have to tell you that it was the smoothest ride I've ever experienced,  I love New York City, but anyone who has visited as well as locals know, there are A LOT of potholes, I mean A LOT, and while riding in the Audi A8 the very first thing I noticed was just how smooth the ride is. I know where most of the potholes are by heart and know when to brace myself (especially when I'm in a yellow cab) but this car ride was absolutely the smoothest I've ever experienced, and my driver was awesome too! I'm not sure I want to go any screening that doesn't come with Audi ride to and from my door after this!

Team Butterfly outside AMC 25 Movie Theatre in New York City, check out the super hot 2014 Audi A8 Automobile and there is my super cool driver!

Seriously folks if you are considering a new vehicle, look no further, the 2014 Audi A8 is pure perfection! The Audi quattro all-wheel drive system is super smooth, it's LED lighting, Audi MMI touch technology, Audi MMI Navigation plus with voice control system, and absolutely gorgeous interior, make this vehicle pure perfection as far as I'm concerned! I will be dreaming of this car for quite awhile! I looked great as a passenger, but I'm thinking I'd look even better behind the wheel!

Wouldn't it have been amazing if we were picked up by Hugh Jackman? (A girl can dream can't she?)

But I digress! Despite how amazing the ride is, the true star of the show was the movie of course, The Wolverine!

Plot Summary/About:

Lured to a Japan he hasn't seen since World War II, century-old mutant Wolverine (Played by Hugh Jackman) finds himself in a shadowy realm of Yakuza and Samurai. Wolverine is pushed to his physical and emotional brink when he is forced to go on the run with a powerful industrialist's daughter (Played by Tao Okamoto) and is confronted - for the first time - with the prospect of his own death. As he struggles to re-discover the hero within himself, he must grapple with powerful foes and the ghosts of his own haunted past.

In every movie there is a scene stealer, and for me, The Wolverine's scene stealer, is Rila Fukushima who plays Yukio who becomes a 'body guard' for Wolverine/Logan, it's an understated yet very well delivered performance!

I don't want include any spoilers, but I will tell you don't pop up when the credits start to roll, stay put and pay attention, something cool happens, but I won't tell you what, you'll just have to go check that out for yourself to find out what it is! All I can say is....the plot thickens my friends!

Hugh Jackman:

The best part of attending Screenings with The Moms is the opportunity to have a questions and answers session with stars of the movie, Hugh was very open and very down-to-earth, here is the video of his Q&A:

Here are some of my shots: (apologies butterflies they are a bit grainy, I think my camera has really had it, it died after me trying to take 4 hi-res shots which is NOT a good sign as the batteries were fully charged!)

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow all things Wolverine on Twitter @WolverineMovie
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Like" The Wolverine Movie on Facebook

My Take:

This is definitely a summer must see! It's action-packed and has great visuals, there is something that has always fascinated me about Japanese culture and the scenes there are visually beautiful to watch and certainly make me want to go visit. Hugh couldn't have been nicer and the Audi A8 ride to and from the theatre was smooth and fantastic! As we were leaving we were treated to cupcakes by Baked By Melissa, they used 1,700 cupcakes and they spelled out the word 'The Wolverine' with the chocolate ones which I thought was pretty cool!

Even 'The Wolverine' can't resist cupcakes, NOM! NOM! NOM!

Butterflies, The Wolverine is a definite 'TICKET', once you've seen it, come back here and let us know what you thought!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post, no monetary compensation has been received in exchange for our event recap coverage. We were provided with Roundtrip Transportation to and from the Theatre compliments of Audi. We were provided with a private screening experience courtesy of The Moms. All opinions are 100% my own. See our full disclosure policy for any questions.

Today's Words of Inspiration - Is Compassion Dying?

I'm normally not prone to celeb gossip and news on Ascending Butterfly. Celebs comings and goings don't interest me much. Normally you will only see them featured here if they are doing something for charity or the world at large. I get press releases all day long from PR folks who seem to think who wore what where is of interest to me and my readers. That some ball gown is earth shattering and important.

I get that there is a market for 'demented humor' and 'snarky' is very popular and has it's place, but today I'm plain disgusted about the lack of simple compassion in the world. As many of you know, there was quite a bit of controversy surrounding Gilbert Gottfried and Rapper 50 Cent.

I recently met Gilbert at an event for Fisher Price. He was personable and very friendly, and even he himself seemed very surprised that he was selected to speak to the blogging audience in attendance that day. I was actually quite amazed at his ability to go from 'himself' one minute, directly into 'character' the next.

Here is what he tweeted:



@TMZ 2011

 and:

@TMZ 2011

There were 12 insensitive tweets in total, which were deleted and I noticed this on his timeline recently:

I meant no disrespect, and my thoughts are with the victims and their families. (That tweet can be seen HERE)

As you may also know he lost his gig as the voice of the AFLAC duck because of this.

In the case of rapper 50 Cent he tweeted:

"Wave will hit 8am them crazy white boys gonna try to go surfing."

And: "Look this is very serious people I had to evacuate all my hoess from LA, Hawaii and Japan. I had to do it. Lol"

He then explained:

"Nah this is nuts but what can anyone do about it. Let's pray for anyone who has lost someone"

And: "Some of my tweets are ignorant I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. I'm cool either way 50cent."

Would Gilbert be that blasé about the Holocaust? Would 50 be that blasé about Katrina?

I've also been following the news stories about the 2 bus accidents by buses returning from Casino Day Trips and I've seen such a lack of sensitivity there as well, with people saying they shouldn't have gone to a Casino in the first place and other such insensitive remarks.

I send my prayers to the people of Japan. I send my prayers to those in the 2 bus accidents as well as their families and friends. Donations can be made to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief by texting REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation.

I'm honestly completely appaled by all this! I get that Gilbert tells for the most part insanely dirty jokes and that hardcore rappers are not prone to public bursts of sentimentality, but when do we as human beings hold ourselves accountable for what we say and do. Is compassion dying?

Today's Words of Inspiration'

 

Use 'Today's Words of Inspiration' as a breathing meditation to still your mind, quiet your thoughts and bring in positive energy. As you inhale bring in only positive energy by saying in your mind, I breathe in positive energy (or you can say creative energy if that is what you wish to create more of) and as you exhale, Affirm out loud 'I radiate compassion!'

Spend some time each day enjoying focused breathing AND soul guided meditative visualization, in doing so, you can bring about profound and powerful changes in your life.

Visualize yourself manifesting something unique, guided by universal forces that emerge spontaneously from within your soul. Do this at least twice today and see how by taking a moment away from the hectic pace and breathing in positive energy and affirming what you wish to create, your thinking will become different.

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me (@Tracy_Iglesias) on Twitter ! Twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field:

@Tracy_Iglesias #ascendingbutterfly - Today's Words of #Inspiration - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

Make this your best day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

Active Giveaways!

1) Ends 03/21 - LUMIXYL Brightening System 8 weeks to a brighter you Giveaway! 3 winners! ARV $270 PER kit $810 Total!  - Enter HERE!

2) Ends 04/01 - Spotlight Handbag of the Month Giveaway! Pelle Hinges Tote sponsored by Wilsons Leather! ARV $200!  - Enter HERE!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

Vote Needed!

I am a finalist in Mom Central Consulting's 'Grow Your Personal Brand' Grant Program. I would love your vote, but I would also love for you to read my entry. My essay is entitled 'Project Chrysalis'. A project, which many of you know has already begun. The essay questions I was asked to answer really made me think, about my 'brand' and most importantly about my goals both personally and professionally. I hope reading my entry brings you inspiration! This is a DAILY, 1 click, no registration required vote request. You can vote by pressing the image below or HERE:



FTC Disclosure: I was not asked to write about Mom Central's Grant Program, nor does writing about it improve my chances. I feel the message they are sending by supporting bloggers efforts to grow their brand is an important and powerful one!