Love the movies? How about blu-ray movies? Maybe movie merchandise? Learn more about your favorite movies past, present, and future, whether at the movie theatre, on blu-ray or on DVD. Find some unusual gift ideas for movie fans, including yourself. Join the fun and discover a new movie or two!
This Harry Potter Dumbledore quote poster is an officially licensed collectible Harry Potter item produced by MightyPrint. It is made of material that is tear and fade resistant and measures 17 inches by 24 inches.
It features the words of Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, "Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic."
The very original True Grit was a serial story which appeared in The Saturday Evening Post in 1968. It was eventually redone in book form with a slightly different storyline by the author, Charles Portis.
The first movie was made in 1969 and starred John Wayne, in his only Oscar-winning performance in which Roger Ebert said that Wayne displayed "a quiet confidence that grows out of 40 years of acting." A sequel called Rooster Cogburn followed in 1975.
The second version of True Grit arrived at screens in North America on December 22, 2010 and featured Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn. It also features Matt Damon and Josh Brolin . People wondered if this movie could live up to the reputation of the original.
As always, a movie remake stirs up emotions. Some people love the original and hate to see it redone. Others are curious about how a remake might turn out. On this page, watch the movie trailers for both movies, learn a bit more about them and take the opportunity at the end to share your opinion on which is better, the 1969 or the 2010 version of True Grit.
JOHN WAYNE'S TRUE GRIT (1969)
FAST FACTS (1969)
Cast: John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper
Original Release Date: June 11, 1969
Rating: G - General
Studio: Warner Brothers
Run Time: 127 minutes
Awards: John Wayne won his only Academy Award in this movie when he played the U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn
"True Grit, which opened at the Radio City Music Hall yesterday, comes very close to being as good as we remember certain movies of our childhood to have been...a marvelously rambling frontier fable packed with extraordinary incidents..."
"Wayne, in fact, towers over this special movie. He is not playing the same Western role he always plays. Instead, he can play Rooster because of all the Western roles he has played. He brings an ease and authority to the character..."
"Cogburn does have grit, but the movie's title is really a reference to the fortitude of a teenage girl. Bathed in the stunning cinematography of long-time Coen brothers collaborator Roger Deakins and a beautiful score by Carter Burwell...
I am not sure when it was released but if you are a fan of these movies or if you just want to watch them, they are now available in a single Blu-ray collection. Have both for a great price!
Okay, it's time. No waffling. This is it. Which True Grit movie is the best? This is where you get to have your say. If you have seen both versions of the movie, please be sure to share your opinion here. If you love one and can't imagine the other, say so, too! Which is better?
The Polar Express is a great story that particular appealed to my train-loving sons when they were young. If we had young boys to buy a Christmas gift for now, I would consider putting together a gift set with The Polar Express theme. In that set, you would definitely find a hardcover copy of the book plus a Blu-ray or DVD copy of the movie, a magical bell and even some hot chocolate...
On this page, find inspiration to put together your Polar Express gift set for someone whom you know would love to add The Polar Express to their collection.
THE BOOK BY CHRIS VAN ALLSBURG
No doubt that if you are reading this page you are already aware of the popular 1985 children’s book, The Polar Express. The now-classic Christmas story told within the pages of this book was written and illustrated by award-winning children’s author Chris Van Allsburg. It’s a peaceful Christmas story of a young boy being whisked away on a train to the north pole with Santa Claus. Our family discovered this book, right around when it was published in 1985 and shortly before Chris Van Allsburg won a Caldecott Medal for his story. Find your copy of The Polar Express book here on Amazon.
THE MOVIE WITH TOM HANKS
In 2004, The Polar Express was made into an animated movie that was the first all-digital capture film ever made. The film starred Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen and featured Tom Hanks in six different roles. It was released on DVD in 2005.
The Polar Express story presented in the movie remains true to the book, including the bittersweet ending:
"At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe."
We believe that every child, or even those who are children at heart, who loves the Polar Express story should own a sleigh bell. The bell pictured here is the official Hallmark bell for The Polar Express story. It is a perfect add on to your gift set! I love the quality and the price point. You will find your Hallmark Polar Express sleigh bell here on Amazon.
HALLMARK'S BELIEVE SANTA CLAUS
Released by Hallmark in 2004, Hallmark's The Polar Express BELIEVE Santa Claus would definitely be a thrilling and unexpected gift idea for any fan, young or young at heart! Now out of production, the best place to find your BELIEVE Santa Claus is here on eBay. As I look today, there are both new and used Santas available.
HOT CHOCOLATE
Finally, hot chocolate is a required addition because of the Hot Chocolate scene in the movie. There are oodles of options for hot chocolate on Amazon. I looked just now and see some great deals on Swiss Miss with or without marshmallows. I also see Nestle, Ghirardelli, Starbucks, Tim Hortons and more. Click here to see for yourself all of the hot chocolate available on Amazon.
Love this Wizard of Oz t-shirt and the vintage-style image that shares the book and the movie versions of the iconic story. You will love the Tinman, Scarecrow, Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), the Wizard and the Cowardly Lion. It’s a lightweight, classically fitted t-shirt available for men, women and children though I am featuring the female style here on this page. It's available is sizes small through 3XLarge.
Pumpkin juice is, as my son was quick to point out, juice made from a pumpkin. However, the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWOHP) in Orlando, Florida has taken the interest in this unusual beverage to new heights because pumpkin juice is one of the beverages you can purchase when you visit the theme park.
In Harry Potter's world this juice a cold drink that is served at any time to wizards and students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . It is a juice that is consumed like orange juice is by muggles.
At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter you can buy attractively bottled juice that tastes, some say, like pumpkin pie cider. You can also buy a slightly different version of this drink called Pumpkin Fizz at Hogsmeade's The Three Broomsticks pub.
If, like me, you cannot make it to WWOHP, you can make your own version of this juice. There is a wealth of recipes available on line, a few of which I will share below.
PUMPKIN JUICE RECIPES
There are many types of pumpkin juice recipes available, you will certainly have your pick. There are recipes that really do seem like real pumpkin juice. I cannot imagine any juice more real than a recipe that starts with a real pumpkin. From there you will go to the other extreme with recipes that include mixes like iced tea. If neither one of those ideas appeals to you, you are bound to find a great recipe somewhere in the middle.
The New York Times said, "Pumpkin juice in a cute, pumpkin-topped bottle is far more interesting than the park's butterbeer, perhaps because the actual pumpkin content seems minimal. It is more like a feisty apple cider with a little pumpkin thrown in."
MORE HARRY POTTER RECIPES
More recipes can be found in The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Wizards and Non-Wizards Alike. Unfortunately, there is not a butterbeer recipe. Find your copy of this cookbook here on Amazon.
Have you heard of pumpkin juice? Have you ever had pumpkin juice? Have you had The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's pumpkin juice?
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