Neil Young The Archives Volume 1

Neil Young, The Archives, Volume 1

Neil Young's Archives have been deemed, the "Most Ambitious Artist Collection Ever Produced." See the contents of the set here.



Neil Young's Archives
have been deemed, the "Most Ambitious Artist Collection Ever Produced." The set took 20 years to put together and includes an amazing 128 audio tracks, 48 of them which were previously unreleased and 13 of them which had never been heard. The set is packed with more than 1,000 photos, lyrics, letters and memorabilia items.

You will learn all about the first 10 years of Neil Young's career and enjoy information about his life that, when released, was not available anywhere else.

You can enjoy Neil Young's Archives on your choice of format, blu-ray, DVD or CD.

With regard to the blu-ray release, Blu-ray.com says, that this volume, Neil Young Archives Volume 1, is groundbreaking for a number of reasons including that it sounds like "pristine vinyl", has lots of footage and rare tracks and shares many special moments. They suggest that it lays an impressive trail for other artists to follow.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Learn more about Neil Young Archives, Volume 1.
Order your Neil Young Archives set from Amazon.

The Criterion Collection's Hunger Blu-ray Movie Review & Trailer

Hunger a 1981 Criterion film set in Northern Ireland's prison, Maze where inmate Bobby Sands went on a hunger strike.

Hunger is based on a true story that took place in 1981 in Northern Ireland's prison, Maze where inmate Bobby Sands went on a hunger strike, protesting the fact that the government refused to see him and other IRA inmates as political prisoners. Amazon summed up this movie very nicely when they said, "McQueen dramatizes prison existence and Sands' final days in a way that is purely experiential, even abstract, a succession of images full of both beauty and horror."


There are a number of Amazon customer reviews of interest for Hunger, including this one by Nathan Andersen. "Apart from being overwhelmed by the intensity and importance of the subject matter...I was stunned by the power of the filmmaking. This is one of the most impressive directorial efforts I've seen in a long time, and an amazing debut by Steve McQueen, and I expect it will be recognized as one of the most important films of this decade by the film historians who care about substance and style over commercialism and buzz. This is definitely one to have for the library of the film lover who likes to study films; there's a lot to learn here." You can read all of the Amazon customer reviews by clicking right here.

With regard to the quality of the Blu-ray release, Blu-ray.com does an in-depth review of Hunger and calls the Blu-ray transfer impressive and calls the Blu-ray disc VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

High-Def Digest says that this is a hard-to-watch movie but that it is an important one with some moving acting. The movie is recommended on its own merits and the Blu-ray transfer is well done, too. They call it a no-brainer, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Finally, DVD Talk says that this is an unsettling film and a moving experience, one that should be seen. The Blu-ray, they say is as good as the movie, with a "spectacular high definition presentation and an equally effective master-quality soundtrack."

Hunger was on the list of best Blu-ray movies of 2010 and obviously, would make an excellent addition to your Blu-ray movie collection.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order Hunger on blu-ray from Amazon
Check out the Top 10 Best Blu-ray Movies Ever

You Will Love The New Muppets Movie Soundtrack (2011)

You Will Love The New Muppets Movie Soundtrack (2011)
We saw The Muppets Movie shortly after it was released on November 23, 2011 and thoroughly enjoyed it.  As a matter of fact, it was so much fun that I almost found myself singing along with The Muppets and I am sure I was not the only one.

The soundtrack includes remakes of old Muppet favorites like the Muppet Theme Song, Rainbow Connection (The Moopets version) and Mah Na Mah Na as well as numerous songs that are new including Man or Muppet, Life's A Happy Song and Me Party, a duet by Miss Piggy and Amy Adams.

Here's the official trailer for the soundtrack, which is about 7 minutes long and not really much of an ad for the soundtrack, if you want my humble opinion because the music in the movie was so good and the trailer, not so good.


Trailer aside, this is the one album that I would love to be given at Christmas.  It is, of course available from Amazon on CD or as an MP3 download.

Life's A
Happy Song!
Brenda

 

Four Christmases Movie Review

I pulled Four Christmases down from the shelf when I was looking for a Christmas-themed movie for my 19 year old son to watch with me.  He really was not keen on a Christmas movie so it had to be something funny and Four Christmases it was.

Four Christmases is a humorous Christmas movie from 2008 that stars Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon.  It tells the story of a young couple that is forced to stay home from a tropical vacation and visit their parents, all four sets of them.

It was funny and I loved the cameo appearances by many well known older actors like Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen. The critics were not kind to Four Christmases but I enjoyed the film and I laughed outloud.  Sometimes a little laughter is a good thing.



Be warned that, as is obvious in the official movie trailer, this is NOT a family Christmas movie. It has enough sexual references and crude language to make many people (myself included) uncomfortable. The opening sexual scene had me wondering what I had gotten into in selecting this movie. I checked the box and saw that it is rated PG-13. (I thought it might have been rated R.)

In the end, I enjoyed Four Christmases and I would recommend it to people who want a light comedic movie with the caution about the content making it inappropriate for viewing with young people.  Next time, I think I will look for a Christmas comedy aimed at families.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy Four Christmases from Amazon.

Hallmark Hall of Fame's Have A Little Faith (2011) Movie on DVD


An almost-wordless Wednesday movie post suits me perfectly given how busy I am these days with work and getting ready for the holidays. Hallmark Hall of Fame's Have A Little Faith is a movie that I enjoyed this week. What about you? Did you make any time for a movie this week?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Hallmark Hall of Fame Timeless Treasures DVD Collection (2011)

Hallmark Hall of Fame Timeless Treasures DVD Collection (2011)

The second of two collections, Hallmark Hall of Fame Timeless Treasures delivers three more of the best Hallmark movies.  This triple feature set is being offered on a 'limited time' basis and includes The Magic of Ordinary Days, Sarah Plain and Tall and What the Deaf Man Heard.  I have seen and enjoyed all of these movies.

It is worth noting that What The Deaf Man Heard earned a place on my page about The Best Hallmark Movies Ever.

The Magic of Ordinary Days and Sarah Plain and Tall are both also well loved Hallmark movies.

I aplaud Hallmark's choice of movies in this triple feature. Anyone who loves Hallmark films will appreciate this collection.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Collection DVD (2011)

Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Collection. Add these movies to your holiday collection!

Hallmark Hall of Fame movies are, in my opinion, the best of the Hallmark movies so it is very interesting and definitely very well timed that Hallmark is offering for a limited time two Triple Feature Collections.

This set is the Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Collection.  It includes thee fantastic Christmas-themed movies: A Dog Named Christmas, November Christmas and A Season For Miracles. The first two I have seen and loved. The last I have yet to see but A Season For Miracles has  only perfect five-star reviews from the customers on Amazon.

You can order your copy of the Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Collection from Amazon by clicking here. It would definitely be a gift any Hallmark movie lover would like to find under the Christmas tree.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

A Dog Named Christmas Movie Review.
November Christmas Movie Review.

W Network Airs Hallmark Christmas Movies (2011)


A kindly reader pointed out that some of the Hallmark Christmas movies are available in Canada between now and Christmas on the W Network. Thank you, thank you, thank you to that friend. I would have totally missed this opportunity if she had not pointed it out.

I am particularly looking forward to two of The Good Witch movies - The Good Witch's Gift and The Good Witch's Family - as I have not had a chance to see any of this movie series.  Both of them air on Tuesday, December 6, 2011.

When Love is Not Enough - The Lois Wilson Story is the story of the couple who started AA. I have seen it and can recommend it though I really don't think of it as a Christmas movie. When Love is Not Enough airs on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.

Lucky Christmas, a new 2011 Hallmark Christmas movie, airs on Monday December 12. It tells the story of a single mom whose car is stolen, complete with her winning lottery ticket. It is one of the few new 2011 Hallmark movies in the W Network movie line-up.

Finally, I see Christmas in Canaan, the 2009 movie starring Billy Ray Cyrus, which is being followed this year by Return to Canaan and I see that Night Before the Night Before Christmas airs on Wednesday December 14, 2011.

This short post is just my attempt to let you know that you can tune into some great Hallmark Christmas movies on the W Network. (It is not a complete list.) If you are interested, check your tv guide every day in order to determine what Christmas Hallmark films are on the W Channel schedule.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Elizabeth Taylor Christie's Auction Video


The Christie's auction of Elizabeth Taylor jewelry and clothing draws nearer and I was thrilled to stumble across this video that shares some of Elizabeth Taylor's 50 year collection of haute couture clothing and jewelry.

Miss Taylor had a style of her own and her stunning collection included top designers like Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Hermès, Fendi, Valentino, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada, of which 400 pieces will appear in the Christie's auction, slated to occur from December 13 to December 16, 2011.



See you
at the movies!
Brenda


Jessica Tandy's The Christmas Story Lady Movie Review

Jessica Tandy's The Christmas Story Lady Movie Review

If there is nothing you love better than cuddling up with a good book and your children, you are bound to love this Christmas movie, The Christmas Story Lady.

The story is that of a Grandmother who has to give up her own home and move in with her daughter. Needing a purpose in life, she approaches many local institutions in search of a volunteer job.

She eventually stumbles across a public television studio that will allow her to tape her own television show and so she creates 'The Christmas Story Lady' on which she shares her favorite children's stories.  When her show catches the eye of a television executive, it no longer is a simple little show produced by a sweet lady and, of course, it grows out of control.

I enjoyed this family friendly film, which stars Jessica Tandy, Ed Begley Jr., and Stephanie Zimbalist. It was a made-for-television movie in 1991 and it is a wholesome movie, like the Anne of Green Gables series, and one I can wholeheartedly recommend for the entire family.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Link:

Buy The Christmas Story Lady on Amazon.


Meet The Muppet Walter & Check Out His Kermit the Frog Watch


We were thrilled with the 2011 reboot of Disney's Muppet franchise and with Walter, the newest Muppet Character.

Walter is a quiet guy, sweet but lacking in confidence, perhaps because he has never quite fit into the human world.

Walter has a wonderful and very supportive older brother named Gary. (Played by Jason Segal.)  Gary has always been there for Walter, as big brothers often are.

Walter is, as might not be surprising given the fact that we are talking about a Muppet movie, a HUGE fan of Kermit The Frog because he somehow manages to relate to him. When offered the chance to visit Los Angeles, he is delighted because he will finally be able to visit the Muppet Studios.

While in LA. it becomes clear that Walter, his brother Gary and his partner, Mary (played by Amy Adams) are going to have to help save the studios from imminent desctruction and to do so, they must enlist Walter's hero, Kermit the Frog.

Walter is such a huge fan of Kermit that he wears Kermit on his clothing and even on his wrist.  He even takes a moment in the movie to point out that he wears Kermit's image on his watch.

You can wear a Kermit The Frog Watch, too. Check out Amazon's collection right here.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda


An Elf's Story Review: The Elf on the Shelf DVD & Gift Set


Usually I manage to miss new shows on television. However, thanks to a review in the New York Times about the new Christmas television shows for 2012, I actually knew about and remembered to watch An Elf's Story, the new Elf on the Shelf television program.

Long ago, a friend named Joan introduced me to the Elf on the Shelf via her page The Elf on the Shelf, A Family Tradition and what a beautiful tradition it is.

And the new television show, entitled An Elf's Story was sweet, telling as it did of one little boy's loss of faith in Christmas and how one little Elf on the Shelf named Chippey was able to help the boy renew his faith.

Here is a peek at the show through the official An Elf's Story trailer:



There were a few problems with watching An Elf's Story on television and the first you all know and, if you are like me, dread. That is the commercials. Aghh, just get on with the story, I thought.

The second was ABC's insistence at having their television logo in the bottom righthand corner of the screen throughout the ENTIRE show.  It managed to detract from the lovely winter scenes.

Finally, ABC insisted on reminding us a couple of times during the show that Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer would be airing on Tuesday night.  Granted, I could use the reminder but what they really reminded me was that it is better to have the DVD than to endure watching Rudolph (or An Elf's Story) on network television...

And yes, you can buy your copy of An Elf's Story on DVD from Amazon. If you are considering giving An Elf's Story as a gift, you might rather choose the Elf's Story gift set, which includes an Elf for your shelf but not a copy of the book, as displayed below. The gift set is available here on Amazon.



See you
at the movies!
Brenda


J.K. Rowling Speaks Out Against The Tabloid Frenzy At The Public Inquiry

North Americans are familiar with the hounding of the famous by the press but nothing was more extreme than the hounding Princess Diana received in the United Kingdom. I have no idea if that situation has anything to do with the current inquiry into the standards of the British media or not but we all are aware that the media continues to harass celebrities in the U.K. and elsewhere.

J.K. Rowling spoke out about the tabloids during her appearance at the public inquiry yesterday. She says that she worked hard to shield her family from the press but that her best efforts were not enough to protect them and, at one point, the media's attention was so intense that she was forced to move to a new home.

With regard to the intrusion upon the privacy of her family, Rowling said, "A child, no matter who their parents are, deserves privacy." I am inclined to agree. What do you think? Does the fact that J.K. Rowling is recognized around the world mean that the press should have access to her doings? To the activities of her family? To the lives of her children?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda


Johnny Depp 2012 Calendar

Johnny Depp 2012 Calendar

I said it last year and I'll say it again this year...WOW -- Have you seen the new Johnny Depp 2012 calendar? If you love Johnny Depp and you need a calendar (and who doesn't) consider giving Johnny a glance. This calendar is definitely my favorite.

If I were creating a calendar with Johnny Depp, I would definitely include Chocolat, for that is one of my favorite Depp movies. How about you? Which movies do you want to be in your dream Johnny Depp calendar?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Click here to order your 2012 Johnny Depp Calendar from Amazon.
 

New Family Movies November (2011)

New Family Movies November 2011
Hugo Original Score available on Amazon by clicking here.

What an exciting moment in the movie world. Not one but rather three family friendly movies have opened recently at the movie theatre.

The first one is one that I have been looking forward to for months -- The Muppet's new movie, The Muppets (2011). The others, Hugo and Arthur Christmas, I had not been paying much attention, too. Hugo I had seen what seemed like a long time ago in a trailer and mostly forgot about and Arthur Christmas I had dismissed because, well, it just seemed like yet another animated Christmas movie.  Then at breakfast time on November 23, I pulled open the newspaper and was surprised when I finished reading the entertainment section that I was sold by good reviews of all three.

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS


My local newspaper, The Ottawa Citizen, calls Arthur Christmas a "brilliant animated film that brings a wildly original spin to a Christmas tale." The story is that of a present that is not delivered and Santa's inept son Arthur who refuses to accept that it will not be delivered. Critic Jay Stone gave the movie the best rating of the day at four stars. Take a look via the official movie trailer:


THE MUPPETS (2011)


The Muppets (2011) also received a very solid review, a very respectable 3.5 stars and reviewer Katherine Monk says that Jason Segel has "successfully resurrected the Muppets" who have been tucked away at Disney for the last ten years. Monk says that the story "affirms the importance of a good attitude and a loving heart." I am pleased that The Muppets are back in such a successful fashion.


Note that Disney released MANY movie trailers for The Muppets (2011).

HUGO

Finally, there's Hugo, a Martin Scorsese 3D film called "a delightful celebration of the movies." Critic Roger Moore says that this movie is particularly of interest to grown up movie fans because of its references to movie making. The boy in this story lives in a Paris train station during a period of time between the two world wars. He's an orphan who looks after the clocks. Moore gave Hugo a good review and a score of 3.5 stars.  Hugo, by the way, is based on Brian Seznick's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Now I have a dilemma. Which movie to see? I expect it will be the Muppets who have had a place in my heart since I was a girl. How about you, which of these movies stands out for you?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

The Muppets Exclusive Deluxe Plush Toys
The Muppets Movie on Blu-ray and DVD

The Red Shoes Blu-ray Movie Review

The Red Shoes Blu-ray Movie Review

The Red Shoes is a 1948 technicolor musical set in the south of France, which features Oscar-winning sets and music, amazing performances and cinematography. The story is a dramatic love story in which Moira Shearer makes her debut as a ballerina on a rising star who has to decide between a composer and an impresario...

The Red Shoes was one of the best blu-ray movies of 2010.  Blu-ray.com said that The Red Shoes should be an addition to all film libraries and VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED it.  

Viewer Mavyn said:

"The Red Shoes is a classic motion picture which has received superlative reviews. Even though it is a bit dated, it stands as a monumental cinematic experience for most viewers unless they cannot abide ballet. This restored version of the classic movie has been lovingly restored to effectively eliminate what time has done to deteriorate the original film material. The result is this BluRay masterpiece. This BluRay version, then, would be one of my choices if I was stranded on a desert island. It stands as one of the best movies ever made."

To see all of the Amazon customer reviews for The Red shoes, click here.

Watch the movie trailer and see what you think:


I haven't checked out The Red Shoes yet but it is on my list. How about you? Have you seen The Red Shoes? Are you curious?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy your copy of The Red Shoes on blu-ray from Amazon.

Amazon Black Friday Deals on Movies

For those of you who live in the United States and who love movies (or Canadians who have a U.S. mailing address), I hope that you are aware that Amazon is running Black Friday blu-ray movie specials almost every hour of every day this week.

We've already missed an incredible deal -- The Muppets five pack movie set with collectors tin, which ws marked down from $160 to an unbelievable $50 -- but there is much more to come.  Amazon has posted an hour-by-hour list of the movie specials so that you can plan when you need to be available to buy the movies that you are interested in.  I see prices as low as $1.99 with the bulk of the single blu-ray discs selling for $3.99 to $7.99.

If you are giving the gift of movies this Christmas, make sure you hop on over to Amazon right away and don't miss out on these fanastic Black Friday specials.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Link:

Check out Amazon's Black Friday Movie Specials by clicking right here.

Hallmark's Trading Christmas (2011) Movie

Hallmark's Trading Christmas (2011) Movie

In Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas book four strangers discover the magic of Christmas. I read and enjoyed the book recently, it is a light, funny Christmas story in which four strangers trade houses, towns and christmas, and and I am thrilled to say that the trailer for Hallmark's new 2011 movie Trading Christmas looks like it could live up to the novel.

Here's a peek at the video:



What do you think? Looks like fun, I would say. Trading Christmas airs on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 26, 2011, so, if you receive the Hallmark Channel, you will want to mark your calendar with that date. If, like me, you do not receive the Hallmark Channel, you will have to wait and see if this is one of the few new Hallmark movies that will be released on DVD this year. If I figure it out, I will be sure to come back and tell you here.

Meanwhile, I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND the book, to anyone who enjoys Hallmark movies. I think it would make a great Christmas gift item, too bad we cannot at this point pair it with a copy of the movie.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas Book from Amazon.

Hallmark's A Christmas Wedding Tail (2011) Movie DVD

A Christmas Wedding Tail Hallmark Dog Themed Movie

I know, I know it isn't even Thanksgiving Day yet in the United States but I just had to share the news about this new Hallmark Christmas movie, A Christmas Wedding Tail, with you right away because it airs this weekend, on Saturday, November 19, 2011. Of course, it airs on the Hallmark Channel so I won't be able to watch it right away but I was excited to discover that Hallmark is going to be releasing the DVD on December 6, 2011.

Here's a peek at this new movie, via the official movie trailer, which stars Jennie Garth, Brad Rowe, Tom Arnold, Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox. I will look forward to seeing Jennie Garth again because I was a loyal Beverly Hills 90201 watcher a few years ago...


What did you think? Looks pretty good to me but then again I do love a good Hallmark movie.

If you are interested in buying the DVD, you can order yours from Amazon right now by clicking here.  

See you
at the movies!
Brenda


Kermit The Frog Meets Ellen DeGeneres

Kermit The Frog Meets Ellen DeGeneres

Kermit The Frog is on the road promoting The Muppets new movie, The Muppets.

Watch as Kermit is interviewed by Ellen DeGeneres in this Youtube video. You will laugh outloud and learn some of Kermit's secrets about his relationship with Miss Piggy, his feelings about flies (he's NOT vegan) and even his income.


Are you ready for MUPPET domination?

See you
at the Movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Learn more about The Muppets new movie Green With Envy.

Make Them Green With Envy For Your Kermit The Frog Watch


If you are anxiously awaiting total Muppet domination on November 23, 2011, with the arrival of the new Muppets movie why not watch the minutes go by on this handsome Kermit The Frog watch? I love it, I think it is perfectly Kermit-like, don't you?

This watch is an official Disney product produced by Ewatchfactory. They have been producing watches using up-to-the-minute (pun intended) technology with popular themes like The Muppets for more than 10 years.

UPDATED 2019: This watch remains one of my favorites but is no longer available on Amazon. You can follow the link below to see if it might be available again.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order this Kermit the Frog wrist watch from Amazon.

Hallmark's Lucky Christmas 2011 Movie

Hallmark's Lucky Christmas 2011 Movie



Lucky Christmas was one of Hallmark's new movies for 2011. I was thrilled (as I always am) when I found the trailer for this new Hallmark Christmas film and I am pleased to be able to share the link to the trailer here with you. I also uncovered a behind-the-scenes, on location look into this film.

Lucky Christmas features a struggling single mom whose car was stolen...with her lottery ticket inside:



Lucky Christmas aired November 12, 2011 and stars Elizabeth Berkley and Jason Gray-Stanford. It is available on Amazon here.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Michael Jackson's Cirque du Soleil Immortal World Tour (2011)

Michael Jackson's Cirque du Soleil Immortal World Tour (2011)

Foolish me, I did not buy tickets to see Michael Jackson's Cirque du Soleil Immortal World Tour when it was in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago. If I had been able to see this video then, I would probably have chosen to go and of course, since I love Michael Jackson, I cannot help asking myself why I did not buy tickets because it turns out I missed a spectacular event.

Anyway, in case you are unsure of what to expect from this collaboration, I would like to share a video look into what the Cirque du Soleil put together in the form of Michael Jackson's Immortal World Tour.



A friend who attended the Ottawa Cirque du Soleil event said that it was just like being at a Michael Jackson concert, with perhaps only Michael missing.

The local newspaper, the Ottawa Citizen, said, "My guess is that Michael Jackson would approve."

Nice to know that, as is typical with Cirque, there is an album available called simply, Michael Jackson's Immortal.  It contains 40 of Michael Jackson's songs, reworked for the performance, and it will be released on November 21, 2011. You can order it from Amazon by clicking right here.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

More Michael Jackson:

Order the Immortal CD from Amazon.

You Can Buy Hallmark's The Night Before The Night Before Christmas DVD

Hallmark's The Night Before The Night Before Christmas DVD

If you were unable to watch Hallmark's The Night Before The Night Before Christmas or if you loved it, you will be glad to know that it is available on DVD now.

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas first aired on November 20, 2010, and was released on October 11, 2011. Starring Jennifer Beals and Rick Roberts, it is a family friendly Christmas movie.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda




Quick Links:

Order your copy of The Night Before The Night Before Christmas from Amazon.

The Thin Red Line Blu-ray Movie Review

The Thin Red Line Blu-ray Movie Review

The Thin Red Line is a Terrence Malick movie that was produced in 1998. It is an adaptation of the 1962 book by James Jones about the WWII battle for Guadalcanal. It was a big-budget movie but also a philosophical one starring Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Elias Koteas, Woody Harrelson, Adrian Brody, George Clooney and John Cusack. Some consider it to be one of the best war movies.


Amazon customer D. Litton said, "Even those not partial to war films may favor the grandeur and spectacle of The Thin Red Line. A stirring war epic and an intense journey into the mind are swirled into an engrossing movie that tugs at the heartstrings with such a grip you have no choice but to go along with it."

The blu-ray release? Well, it was one of the best blu-ray movie releases of 2010.

DVD Talk praised the blu-ray disc saying that it was jaw-dropping and had great technical qualities.

Blu-ray.com said that the film has been reproduced extremely well on blu-ray disc and that it has great new special features. They declared it VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Finally, DVD Verdict says that Criterion did a very good blu-ray release and that it is "almost certainly their pick for Blu-ray of the year."

What do you think? Have you seen The Thin Red Line?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order your copy of The Thin Red Line from Amazon.

Sesame Street 20 Years and Still Counting Review

Sesame Street 20 Years Old and Counting


Sesame Street 20 Years and Still Counting
is a short and sweet peek into the history of a television show that is and has been watched around the world. Hosted by Bill Cosby and guest starring Kermit the Frog, this show will take you back to the years when you watched Sesame Street and at the same time give you a bit of background information about why Sesame Street was created.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I laughed and I cried and I and was disappointed when it was over. I remember watching Sesame Street extensively when I was young. I remember watching it, too, when I was a bit older but I did not know until today that Sesame Street was written to appeal to adults and children because the producers wanted parents to watch the program with their little ones.

If you were or are a fan of Sesame Street, I highly recommend this DVD.

If you know someone who has fond memories of the program and the gang, this would be an excellent and inexpensive gift idea.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order your copy of Sesame Street 20 Years and Still Counting Review.

The Muppets Movie Parody Calendar 2012

The Muppets Movie Parody Calendar 2012


FOUND. The perfect Christmas gift for anyone who loves The Muppets and the movies in general.

The Muppets once again are spoofing the movies. They have been doing that all along with their trailers for the new 2011 Muppet movie and now they have taken the parody theme to the entire next year.

The 2012 Muppets Movie Poster Parodies calendar includes thirteen images from the movies and you are going to love it. Think The Godfather, but insert Dog at the beginning of the word and Rowlf as Marlon Brando. Think of the Sound of Music but alter the title a bit to The Sow of Music and insert Miss Piggy in the lead role. Finally, I love the image of Fozzie Bear as Tom Cruise in Mission Improbable. You will, too.

Head directly to Amazon to order your copy by clicking right here.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda


Johnny Depp in The Man Who Cried (2001) Movie Review

Johnny Depp in The Man Who Cried (2001) Movie Review

The Man Who Cried is a 2001 film with an all-star cast that includes Christina Ricci, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro and Johnny Depp. If you enjoy Johnny Depp, you will definitely want to see this movie, even though he is not the main character. He may not have been the main character but he was definitely unforgettable in this bittersweet film and I thought he even came close to stealing the show.

The Man Who Cried starts out in 1927 in a small Russian village with a young girl who becomes separated from her family and winds up raised in England by an English family. As a singer and dancer, she winds up in living in Paris where she is increasingly unsafe as the Nazi Germans gain strength.

Throw into the story an unscrupulous operatic tenor, a cabaret dancer and a mysterious gypsy stranger and you have a beautifully done movie, an “alluring tale of passion, intrigue and betrayal.”

I loved it, though I see by mixed reviews online, which means that this movie is not for everyone. If you love Johnny Depp and you enjoy romantic movies with a historic bent, you should enjoy The Man Who Cried.

I watched it on an old VHS tape and wished for better because the film was beautiful and I found myself imagining how lovely it would be if it were cleaned up on blu-ray disc. However, it turns out that The Man Who Cried is not available on blu-ray. It is, of course, available on DVD from Amazon by clicking right here.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Johnny Depp The Rum Diary Movie Review (2011).
The Five Best Johnny Depp Movies. 

Got Zombie Mugs?

In the spirit of the rapidly approaching Halloween celebrations, I would like to share with you this lovely (or should I say horrible) Zombie mug. This handsome black mug will hold 15 ounces of your favorite steaming hot...coffee.

As the individual who has it for sale says, you need to own this mug so that your friends and families know where you stand on the subject of Zombies and so that they will know that they can turn to you when the Zombie Apocalypse comes.

Unfortunately, this Zombie coffee mug is no longer available but you can find more horror-filled, fun and funny mugs here.

See you
at the movies!
Boo-renda

Zombieland Movie Review

Zombieland Movie Review
The days when I used to watch Stephen King horror movies have passed. No longer am I a fan of horror movies.  However, I recently watched Zombieland because I was the only one in my family who did not want to watch it on movie night. (Having a family of males in their late teens will do this to you.)
Imagine then, my surprise when I enjoyed Zombieland and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Yes, I cringed at all of the blood and gore. Don't forget that Zombies do eat brains.

What I wasn't expecting was to laugh and to laugh quite a bit.  I expect the combination of horror and humour is partly responsible for the somewhat surprising popularity of this movie.

You can read my full review of Zombieland by clicking right here.

In terms of the Blu-ray disc, Blu-ray.com says that the Blu-ray version "excels in every area" and that it has amazing picture quality, an impressive soundtrack and lots of 'ooey-gooey' extras.  They rate it HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for every Blu-ray movie collection. I’d temper that with the thought that Zombieland is not a movie for everyone but if this is your genre, or if you are willing to live with the blood and gore, then you should add this movie to your collection.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Click here to buy Zombieland from Amazon.
Or here to read my review of the movie.

Zombieland T.V. Show

Interesting news in yesterday's newspaper and that was that the movie Zombieland is going to be made into a television series. My almost adult son was thrilled that this would mean TWO zombie t.v. series.

Apparently, Zombieland was originally meant to be a t.v. show but somewhere along the line it became a movie and when it became a movie, some of the interesting ideas were discarded like the Zombie Kill of the Week. There really was supposed to be a Zombie Kill of the Week each and every week.

The new series, which has not actually been confirmed, would feature a half-hour episode each week and would be released in the 2012-2013 television season.

Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone, two of the original stars will not be a part of the television series.

Does a new zombie television series interest you?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Click here to buy Zombieland from Amazon.
Or here to read my review of the 2009 Zombieland movie.

Just Like Dad Movie Review

Just Like Dad Movie Review

Just Like Dad is a 1995 Feature Film for Families. It's a simple story of a boy who hurts his dad while trying to figure out how to become more popular with the students at his new school. He learns that although his father is not a big strong guy physically, he has other strengths.

Just Like Dad stars Wallace Shawn, Ben Diskin and Nick Cassavetes. You will probably recognize Wallace Shawn who plays the father. His resume is extensive and includes The Princess Bride, You might also recognize Nick Cassavetes from movies like My Sister's Keeper and The Notebook.

The child star of this movie is Ben Diskin, who no doubt has grown up since he made this movie. I see his more recent works includes voicing for video games and the television show, The Spectacular Spider-Man.

Feature Films for Families are great safe movie choices if you have children in your home. I like the questions that come on the case, to help generate conversation AFTER you watch the movie.

Here's a glimpse at the movie via the movie trailer:


Should you decide to buy this movie from Amazon, you will be pleasantly surprised at HOW affordable it is. A search for Feature Films For Families, turns up an interesting selection no doubt worth consideration.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Buy Just Like Dad from Amazon.
Learn more about picking movies for children.

The Trip (2011) Movie Review


Last night I was left on my own by my family so I pulled a lesser known movie, a British comedy, called The Trip from the shelf. If you have not heard of The Trip, you are to be excused for I had not either.

As a matter of fact, I am not familiar with the actors in this movie -- Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon who, according to the case, play loose versions of themselves. I was, therefore, really surprised to discover a boxed DVD set called, The Steve Coogan Collection, but I digress.

The Trip promises to be interesting on a couple of fronts. First, it is a FOOD movie with two non-foodies sent forth as restaurant critics...and who doesn't love food? Second, it is a TRAVEL movie with these friends travelling to fine restaurants throughout the remote countryside of England.

The tag line, "Eat, drink and try not to kill each other" was apt. Throw any two people together in a moving vehicle for many hours and all will not likely go smoothly. However, it is the continual banter, both when they were arguing and when they were getting along, that kept me watching this film. Well, that and the beautiful geography and the gourmet food offered up, albeit some 'ordinary' food would have been nice, too.  One of the best moments in my humble opinion (at least with regard to food) was the sunny day in England when they were able to sit outside and have a fried breakfast...

Did I say it was funny? It was, with Coogan and Brydon spending the entire trip doing impressions of Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Sean Connery and Michael Caine, bickering and entertaining themselves as they went. As reflected in the Amazon customer reviews, Fans of this duo and their prior works really enjoyed the movie. Take a peek for yourself:


If you have seen this movie, make sure to let us know what you think and if you know how we can be picked for a trip into the English countryside reviewing restaurants, make sure to leave that information, too.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy The Trip on Amazon.
The New York Times The Trip Review.

The Muppets Movie Etiquette Video Trailer (2011)

Love The Muppets? If you do, you will enjoy this video that they just released at the movie theatres about proper movie theatre etiquette although  I'm pretty certain that a true movie lover like you would NEVER text or talk in the theatre, which is the purpose of this video.

AMC Theatres and Sprint encourage you to "Resist the Urge. Don't Text or Talk in the Movie Theatre."



Honestly, I cannot remember having experienced either of these issues when I have been at the movie theatre. How about you? Have you been at a movie theatre when someone was using their electronic device?  What did you do? What did you think?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Buy Call Me Mrs. Miracle on DVD

Buy Call Me Mrs. Miracle on DVDCall Me Mrs. Miracle is the sequel to Mrs. Miracle, a 2009 Hallmark movie both starring Doris Roberts as Mrs. Merkle.

In Call Me Mrs. Miracle we find Mrs. Merkle working in a family's department store in New York. The store is struggling and 'Mrs. Miracle' has her work cut out for her when trying to make sure that the family comes together to have a good Christmas.

Fans of Call Me Mrs. Miracle will be thrilled  to discover that this 2010 Hallmark movie has been released on DVD and is available right now from Amazon.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

 

Elizabeth Taylor Auction (2011)

Elizabeth Taylor Auction (2011)
The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor is a celebration of the life and times of Elizabeth Taylor hosted by Christies’ auction house. It began on September 15, 2011, with a series of travelling events and exhibitions, and ends with two auctions in New York on December 14 and 15, 2011.

The first day of the auction is devoted to her jewels, often called The Crown Jewels of Hollywood or, as my local newspaper called them this morning, the "fashion equivalent of King Tut's tomb." This auction includes such pieces as La Peregrina, a pearl worn originally by European queens and the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond both worth millions as well as ‘lesser’ pieces including the wedding bands from her marriages to Richard Burton.

The second day of the auction is devoted to Elizabeth Taylor’s collection of one-of-a-kind haute couture gowns, pret-a-porter fashions, coats, capes, handbags, costume jewelry and shoes and will include a couple of wedding gowns. Apparently, her closet opens to reveal an amazing selection of famous clothing items that Taylor chose herself for certain events in her life, like the dress she wore to the Taming of the Shrew royal performance in 1967.

Literally a jeans-and-tee kind of lady myself, I’m not sure why I am fascinated by Elizabeth Taylor’s life. I would really love to attend the auction in New York although simply as a spectator wanting a better look into the late actress’s spectacular collection. It would be nice if some of Elizabeth Taylor’s pieces wound up in a museum of some sort so that they could be shared with the public, which would be true to Taylor’s feeling that she was the only a temporary guardian of these pieces and that they were meant to be shared with everyone.

I enjoyed learning about her jewelry in the book called My Love Affair With Jewelry. If you yourself are interested in learning more about her jewelry collection, the pieces in it and how she came to own them, you can read more about that book by clicking right here. I understand it to be the only book about her life that she wrote herself.

Quick Links:

Buy Elizabeth Taylor’s My Love Affair With Jewlery on Amazon.

Dog Gone Movie Review (2008)

Dog Gone Movie Review (2008)

Dog Gone is a straight-to-DVD family movie that was produced by Screen Media Films and Unversial Studios and released on October 7, 2008.  It's not a big budget film but it is an entertaining adventure that includes one 12-year old boy, one dog and three bumbling jewel thieves.

If you have a youngster in your home who loves building things, they will love the contraptions that Owen uses to thwart the thieves.  (The contraptions remind me of those that were used in the 2009 movie Hotel for Dogs, although done here on a lower budget.)

Of course, if you love dogs you will love this movie and if you're a dog lover who cannot stand to see a dog hurt, be aware that there is a small section near the end where the dog is in a perilous situation but that all turns out fine in the end.

It is a family movie, rated PG for bullying (which does get nasty), rude humour (also known in my world as bathroom humor), language, mild threat and action. However, if you are like me, and you know how much your children enjoy bathroom humour, you're willing to put up with some of that.

The comedy is over the top and at times outrageous and the trailer makes that very clear.  I particularly enjoyed the antics of the obviously not-real forest critters.

Note that this film was titled Diamond Dog Caper outside of North America.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order Dog Gone from Amazon.
The Five Best Dog Movies on Blu-ray

Gooby 2009 Family Movie Review

If you have ever faced a move with your family, you know how they can cause your children worries and concerns. Gooby shares the story of one family’s move and an 11-year old boy named Willy.

When Willy arrives at his new home and is lonely, he wishes for someone to save him and his teddy bear, Gooby, comes to life. Gooby is a companion who at first is frightened of much in the human world but, after some adventures with Willy, winds up bringing the boy and father together.

Gooby is a Canadian film that was produced in 2009 by Coneybeare Stories. It features the voice of Robbie Coltrane, who played Rubeus Hagrid in Harry Potter. Willy is played by Matthew Knight, a young Canadian actor who can also be seen in the popular Good Witch Hallmark movie series. Knight won a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a DVD Film for his role in Gooby. Rounding out the cast are David James Elliott as the father, Ingrid Kavelaars as the mother and Eugene Levy as the nerdy teacher.

In terms of who should watch Gooby, it is rated PG for some mild rude humor and bullying and it contains bathroom humour, which seems to crop up in these family movies and which your children will love. It is essentially a clean and simple family movie that shares smiles and lessons about growing up.

Gooby didn't fair well with the critics but that doesn`t mean it isn`t a nice, family friendly movie. I recommend checking out the Amazon customer reviews and the movie trailer:



My son who had a prized teddy bear and endured a few military movies would have liked this movie when he was younger. If you watch this with your children expecting a nice story and not a blockbuster movie, you might be surprised. A good choice for a family movie, one you might choose to rent rather than own.

See you
at the movies!

Buy or rent Gooby from Amazon.

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