Category Archives: Movies

Daphne & Velma on Blu-ray Giveaway #DaphneVelma

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own,

Jinkies! The smart and resourceful women of the iconic Scooby-Doo franchise, come to life in an all-new mystery with the release of Daphne & Velma from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The film stars Sarah Jeffery (Disney’s “Descendants: Wicked World”) and Sarah Gilman (ABC’s “Last Man Standing”), and follows the first mystery-solving adventures of Scooby-Doo’s leading ladies.

It’s an adorable film that the whole family will love!

But… Daphne and Velma, need your help!

Watch the Daphne & Velma Slime Lab Video and learn how to make four different kinds of Daphne & Velma slimes featuring Velma herself, Sarah Gilman! Kids of all ages will love the gooey slime fun!

State of the art robots and high-tech gadgets are common sights at Ridge Valley High, an innovative center of learning for some of the brightest minds in the country, including new transfer student, the bright & optimistic Daphne Blake (Sarah Jeffery) who is excited to finally go to school with her online bestie, the whip-smart & analytical Velma Dinkley (Sarah Gilman). But not everything is as innocent as it seems as mysterious disappearances begin to plague the top-performing students on campus. Once cheery and full of life, kids now appear in a “zombiefied” state – lifeless and shells of themselves. Can Daphne and Velma learn to work together and save the students or will they become the next victims? Get ready for thrills and laughs as we follow the first adventures of Mystery Inc.’s fierce female duo.

The film stars Sarah Jeffery (Disney’s “Descendants: Wicked World”) and Sarah Gilman (ABC’s “Last Man Standing”), and is produced by Ashley Tisdale and Jennifer Tisdale’s Blondie Girl Productions.

Giveaway:

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win Daphne & Velma on Blu-ray! Thank you to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Daphne & Velma on Blu-ray Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood To Celebrate Mr. Rogers’ 50th Anniversary #Giveaway

I grew up watching Mr. Rogers and it holds a special place in my heart. I was thrilled to receive the It’s A Beautiful Day Collection on DVD.

This special set of 32 memorable episodes and over 15 hours of content celebrates the 50th anniversary of the beloved Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the pioneering children’s television series from The Fred Rogers Company. Mister Rogers helps children learn the importance of being kind to others, appreciating what makes everyone unique, recycling and taking care of our planet, and much more in the classic series.

The new release also includes a very special bonus episode – the series premiere, in original black-and-white!  The four-disc collection has a total run time of 928 minutes. Episodes of the program are also available for digital download.

Through his popular daily TV visits, generations of young children have grown up with the kind and gentle Mister Rogers, who created a calm and safe place that welcomed all to his neighborhood.

With real-life guests, adventurous field trips and charming make-believe segments, the iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood encouraged kids ages 2-5 to learn about themselves and the world around them, speaking directly to the series’ young audience with his unique one-to-one affirmation of their self-worth.

Celebrity guest stars have included: Tony Bennett, Julia Child, Margaret Hamilton, Michael Keaton, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Rita Moreno, and Bill Nye.

Episodes featured on the DVD include:

Helping Children Know What to Expect at School

Creating with Friends is Different than Playing Alone

Play is the Work of Childhood

Respecting All Living Creatures

Opera Day

Ups and Downs of Friendship

Learning about Rules and Limits

Appreciating the People Who Came Before

Food and Love Go Hand in Hand

Music As a Way to Express Feelings

Families Come in Different Shapes and Sizes

Celebrating Big and Little Things

Lots of Different Things for Play and Pretending

Each Person is Unique – Yet We All Have Much in Common

Being Kind to Ourselves and Others

Nobody Knows What You’re Thinking Unless You Tell Them

Games Can Be Fun, But Not If You’re Left Out

Recycling and Other Ways to care for Our Planet

Learning to Take Care of Yourself

Trying on Different Roles

We All Have Art Inside of Us

Understanding Concepts of Up and Down

The Strength of Love – Even Through Angry Times

Appreciating our Uniqueness

Some Things Change…Some Things Stay the Same

Needing Help and Giving Help

Feeling Good About Who We Are

Encouraging Generosity and Gratitude

Strengths and Limitations, Abilities and Disabilities      
Wondering and Asking Questions

Enjoying Books and Recognizing Symbols

Valuing All Kinds of Art

Giveaway:

PBS Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Five Lucky winners will each win their own  It’s A Beautiful Day Collection on DVD!Thank you to PBS Kids for the review DVD and for sponsoring this beautiful giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: It’s A Beautiful Day Collection on DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Early Man is a Family Animated Comedy Set in Stone Age-#Giveaway

If you are looking for a great animated comedy for your entire family, you will love, Early Man. This hilarious tale is available now on Digital and will be rolling out on Blu-ray Combo Pack on May 22nd from Lionsgate.

Meet the team that rocked the Stone Age in Early Man from Lionsgate.

 

From Aardman, the award-winning tribe that brought you Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, and Shaun the Sheep Movie, this prehistoric romp tells the epic story of Dug the caveman and his goofy friends who challenge invaders to a game of soccer in order to win back their home.

Perfect for the young and young-at-heart alike, the cheerful tale told in charming, well-crafted claymation is Certified Fresh™ on Rotten Tomatoes and is full of “abundant delights” (Ella Taylor, NPR). Starring in the film are Oscar®-winner Eddie Redmayne (Best Actor, The Theory of Everything, 2014; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Tom Hiddleston (Thor: Ragnarok, Kong: Skull Island), Maisie Williams (TV’s “Game of Thrones”), as well as Timothy Spall (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Harry Potter Franchise).

Check out the trailer below:

Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures roamed the Earth, Early Man tells the story of courageous caveman hero Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his best friend, Hognob, as they unite their tribe against a mighty enemy — Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and his Bronze Age City — to save their home.

The animated world of Early Man has extensive special features including never-before-seen featurettes that reveal the love, passion, hard work, and magic that goes into creating an Aardman Studios animated film.

Click the image below for a download and printable Early Man Activity Book!!!

 BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Before the Beginning of Time: Creating Early Man” Featurette
  • “Nick Park: Massaging the Funny” Featurette
  • “The Valley Meets the Bronze” Featurette
  • “Hanging at Aardman Studios: A Workshop Exploration” Featurette

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2017

Rating: PG for Rude Humor and Some Action

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family

Closed-Captioned: N/A

Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH

Feature Run Time: 89 minutes

Giveaway:

Lionsgate is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win an Early Man Blu-ray Combo Pack! Thank you to Lionsgate for the review movie and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents. 

Early Man Blu-ray Combo Pack Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Marvel Studios, “Black Panther” has Arrived on Blu-Ray!!! #Giveaway

We had a massive storm with golf ball size hail and lost power so, I was not able to let you know that the must-own cultural phenomenon, Black Panther by Marvel Studios arrived on Blu-Ray May 15th.

“One of the best superhero movies of the century”

— Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

“An Exhilarating Triumph On Every Level”

–Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

 

As soon as our power came back on, we watched this film. My 11-year-old thought it was crazy, cool and awesome. My 9-year-old thought it  was full of surprises and very thrilling. My husband thought they did a fantastic job with the whole movie and it was an incredible way to introduce Black Panther before Infinity Wars.

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” the highly celebrated story of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), a young African prince who takes on the mantle of King and Super Hero, has thrilled and inspired generations of moviegoers around the globe. Now, fans can bring home the phenomenon, packed with light-hearted fun, pulse-pounding action and a powerful message, and watch it over and over again,

Through the 4K Cinematic Universe Edition of “Black Panther,” fans will experience the exhilarating adventure in stunning 4K Ultra HD with next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Never-before-seen extras feature commentary from director Ryan Coogler; deleted scenes; outtakes; and several making-of featurettes, which detail the Black Panther’s evolution, the remarkable women of Wakanda, the history of T’Challa’s proud nation, and the cosmic origin and technological applications of vibranium. Also included are a roundtable discussion with “Black Panther” filmmakers and writers; a featurette tracing the countless connections between heroes, characters and storylines within the Marvel Cinematic Universe; and an exclusive sneak peek at “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

The global cultural phenomenon of “Black Panther” has dominated the box office charts emerging as the third biggest movie of all time domestically with over $665 million – the first film in eight years to spend five weeks at No. 1 – and rising to the global top 10 of all time with over $1.3 billion.

In the acclaimed film, T’Challa returns home to the hidden high-tech African nation of Wakanda to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king, following the death of his father. But when a man named Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) appears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he’s drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Pitted against his own family, the king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and embrace his future as an Avenger.

The film features a fierce group of Wakandan women, including Nakia (Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o), a War Dog and Wakandan spy; Shuri (Letitia Wright), T’Challa’s little sister and tech wizard; and the Dora Milaje, the all-female Wakandan Special Forces led by Okoye (Danai Gurira). They team up with reluctant ally CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) to help T’Challa defend Wakanda against the forces threatening to destroy it.

The extraordinary ensemble cast of “Black Panther” also includes veteran actors such as Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett as Ramonda, T’Challa and Shuri’s mother; Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker as Zuri, the spiritual leader of Wakanda; and Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, an illegal arms dealer; and standout performances by Academy Award® nominee Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Royal Counsel to T’Challa; Winston Duke as M’Baku, the formidable leader of the Jabari tribe; and Emmy® Award-winner Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, a Wakandan War Dog.

The action in “Black Panther” is intensified through a musical score by GRAMMY®-nominated composer Ludwig Göransson and soundtrack curated and produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Kendrick Lamar and Billboard Magazine’s Executive of the Year Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith. “Black Panther: The Album” topped the Billboard 200 chart for five consecutive weeks and the end-credit track, “All The Stars,” featuring Lamar and SZA, spent nine weeks in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):

Blu-ray: 

  • Director’s Intro
  • From Page to Screen: A Roundtable Discussion – Delve into the film’s making
  • Crowning of a New King – Explore the world of “Black Panther” in all its color and complexity
  • The Warriors Within – Get to know Wakanda’s women and the actors who portray them
  • The Hidden Kingdom Revealed – Wakanda’s diverse people
  • Wakanda Revealed: Exploring the Technology
  • Deleted Scenes
    • N. Meet and Greet
    • Okoye And W’Kabi Discuss the Future of Wakanda
    • T’Challa Remembers His Father
    • Voices from the Past
    • Gag Reel
    • Exclusive Sneak Peek at “Ant-Man and The Wasp”
    • Marvel Studios the First Ten Years: Connecting the Universe
    • Director’s Commentary

Digital Exclusives:

o   In World Wakanda Tourism Ads

  • Come to Wakanda “Before”
  • Come to Wakanda “After”

Feature Run Time:                  Approximately 134 minutes

Rating:                                      PG-13

Aspect Ratio:                           2.39

Languages/Subtitles:             English SDH, French & Spanish

Captions:                                 English

Special Download and Printable Bingo Cards

Click on the image below to download some Black Panther Bingo Cards you can play with your family.

 

Giveaway:

 Marvel Studios is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win Black Panther on Blu-Ray! Thank you to Marvel Studios for the review film and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.
Marvel Studios, Black Panther Blu-Ray Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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PBS “MASTERPIECE: LITTLE WOMEN” on DVD & Blu-Ray #Giveaway

One of my favorite books as a girl was Little Women. I have a feeling, I am not the only one who lists it among their favorite books. I remember the March sisters fondly, and that is why I am so excited to let you know that PBS Distribution is releasing MASTERPIECE: LITTLE WOMEN on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD.

Set against the backdrop of a country divided, the story follows the four March sisters on their journey from childhood to adulthood while their father is away at war.

Under the guidance of their mother Marmee, the girls navigate what it means to be a young woman: from gender roles to sibling rivalry, first love, loss and marriage. Accompanied by the charming boy next door Laurie Laurence, their cantankerous wealthy Aunt March and benevolent neighbor Mr. Laurence, Little Women is a coming-of-age story that is as relevant and engaging today as it was on its original publication in 1868. 

“MASTERPIECE: LITTLE WOMEN” will be available on DVD and Blu-ray May 22, 2018. The run time of the program is approximately 180 minutes. The program will also be available for digital download.

“Little Women is one of the most-loved novels in the English language, and with good reason,” says writer and executive producer Heidi Thomas. “Its humanity, humor, and tenderness never date, and as a study of love, grief, and growing up it has no equal. There could be no better time to revisit the story of a family striving for happiness in an uncertain world.”

Heading the cast are Academy AwardÂŽ nominee Emily Watson (The Theory of Everything, Hilary and Jackie) as Marmee, the devoted mother of the four adolescent March girls; Michael Gambon (Churchill’s Secret, Page Eight) as Mr. Laurence; and Academy AwardÂŽ winner Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote, The Manchurian Candidate) as the March family matriarch, Aunt March.

Click Here to View a Preview of the Program 

The March sisters—the “little women” of the title—feature newcomer Maya Hawke as the willful and adventurous Jo; Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series) as the eldest and most virtuous, Meg; Annes Elwy (King Arthur: Excalibur Rising) as the shy sister, Beth; and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies) as Amy, the youngest of the family.

Also appearing are Jonah Hauer-King (Howards End) as Laurie, the loveable boy next door; Dylan Baker (The Good Wife) as Mr. March, who is serving as a chaplain with the Union Army; Julian Morris (Mark Felt) as John Brooke, Laurie’s cultured and handsome tutor; and Mark Stanley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) as the charming Professor Bhaer.

A celebration of family as much as it is a recognition of the challenges of growing up and forging an individual identity, the program remains relevant due to the universal themes at its core. Backed by a nearly all-female creative team, Thomas’ adaptation doesn’t shy away from tackling the darker, more complex emotions the March family experiences. Drawing from a novel that was well ahead of its time the show speaks to current issues as much as it does to the issues women faced at the turn of the 20th century. 

Devotees of the original novel will relish the book’s indelible scenes in this MASTERPIECE production: the cruel fate of Jo’s manuscript, Amy’s accident on the ice, Meg’s first ball, Beth and the forbidden piano, the pickled limes affair, and many other cherished episodes in a journey to a bygone time.

Although modern society would be disorienting in the extreme to the March sisters, Thomas notes that even today “girls are still confused about their desires and their desirability, and the passage from innocence to experience is more turbulent than ever.” 

“We need hope, and we need empathy,” she adds. “We need laughter, and we need catharsis, we need joy and inspiration. LITTLE WOMEN gives us all of these things.”

Giveaway:

PBS Distribution is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! 5 Lucky Blog Readers will each win their own Masterpiece: Little Women DVD! Thank you to PBS Distribution for the review copy and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

Masterpiece: Little Women DVD Giveaway for 5 Winners on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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“ZOMBIES” The Disney Channel’s Newest Original Movie! #Giveaway

 ZOMBIES  have arrived in the Disney Channel’s Newest Original Movie!  At Seabrook High, it’s Zoms vs Poms!

The movie features exclusive bonus content including bloopers, deleted scenes, Zombie Survival Guide to High School and more!

Disney’s  ZOMBIES  is a music and dance-filled story set in the fictitious world of Seabrook, a cookie-cutter community brimming with perky conformity 50 years after a zombie apocalypse.

Today, the zombies pose no threat, but are required to live in Zombietown, an isolated, rundown community infused with their unique creative spirit. When zombies are finally allowed to enroll in Seabrook High School, the charming, charismatic zombie Zed, who is determined to play football, meets freshman Addison who dreams of being a cheerleader — the ultimate form of status in Seabrook.

Addison takes a lot of flak for befriending Zed and his zombie friends, but comes to learn that zombies and cheerleaders aren’t so different after all. Zed and Addison work together to show Seabrook what they can achieve when they embrace their differences and celebrate what makes them a community.

Cast:  Milo Manheim as Zed; Meg Donnelly as Addison; Trevor Tordjman as Bucky; Kylee Russell as Eliza; Carla Jeffery as Bree; Kingston Foster as Zoey;
and James Godfrey as Bonzo.

Director:Paul Hoen

Executive Producers:  Effie Brown and Paul Hoen

Writers: David Light and Joseph Raso

Bonus Material:  Zombie Blooper Reel (DVD Exclusive)  – Laugh out loud at the Cast of ZOMBIES in this compilation of the funniest bloopers and outtakes from the making of the film.  TRT:  3:53

The Zombie Survival Guide To High School (DVD Exclusive) – This piece uses a visual motif of a Zombie Survival Guide, with styled infographics and hosted by the talent.  We go down the list of some of the most important survival tips for Zombies and humans on how to get along and make the best of high school.  TRT:  2:24

Dance Tutorial – Join Meg Donnelly (Addison), Kylee Russell (Eliza) and ZOMBIES Choreographer, Christopher Scott, as they show you how to dance along to the ‘BAMM” Music Video. TRT:  3:38

Deleted Scene #1 (DVD Exclusive)  – It’s a Cheer-tastrope  TRT:  :57

Deleted Scene #2 (DVD Exclusive) – New Jacket, New Name TRT:  1:09

Audition Tapes (DVD Exclusive)

Milo Manheim Audition TRT: 1:16

Meg Donnelly Audition TRT :57

Music Video – “BAMM” TRT 3:39

Lyric Video – “BAMM”  TRT 3:23

Trailer #1  TRT:  2:20

Trailer #2   TRT 1:50

Release Date:   April 24, 2018

Packaging: DVD

Rating: TV-G

Feature Run Time:       Approx. 94 minutes (excluding bonus)

To celebrate this new film, we are sharing the downloadable Disney ZOMBIES Movie Night Fun Pack.

So, are you excited to see this new movie? Let me know.

Giveaway:

Disney is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own ZOMBIES DVD! Thank you to Disney Channel for the review movie and for sponsoring this scary good giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

Disney ZOMBIES Movie DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Get Cooking in Caillou’s Kitchen #Giveaway For 5 Winners

If your little ones love helping in the kitchen, they will love Caillou’s Kitchen on DVD. They will delight in watching Caillou’s adventures with food. He makes some delicious messes in the 16 fun-filled episodes on this DVD. Watch Caillou make a surprise breakfast for Mom and Dad, help Mom create a feast for guests and then creates a big gooey mess when he tries to make some cookies.

Caillou also learns all about being on his best behavior when eating out at a fancy restaurant. Caillou and babysitter Julie play dress up and then take turns being the waiters and so much more!

DVD Includes 16 Yummy Adventures:

  • Caillou’s Kitchen
  • Caillou Makes Cookies
  • Caillou’s Surprise Breakfast
  • Caillou Tidies His Toys
  • Caillou Goes Shopping
  • All You Can Eat
  • Sunday Brunch
  • Recipe for Fun
  • Caillou Becomes a Waiter
  • I Scream For Ice Cream!
  • Caillou’s Favorite Plate
  • Caillou’s Milk Run
  • Caillou’s Coins
  • Caillou the Timekeeper
  • Olive Muddle
  • Glitter Glitch

 Run time is approximately 60 minutes.

Giveaway for 5 Winners!!!

 

PBS Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! 5 Lucky Blog Readers Will Each Win a Caillou’s Kitchen DVD!!! Thank you to PBS Kids for the review DVD and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Caillou’s Kitchen DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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“Tad The Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas” DVD Available April 10th!

My kids have a great imagination, and that is why I knew they would love the new movie, Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas. It was super easy for them to get lost in the adventure of this film. To help, we were sent an adventure kit to go along with the DVD and Digital copy. You can bring it home too on April 1oth! 

TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SECRET OF KING MIDAS

Get Lost in the Adventure on DVD & Digital April 10, 2018!

Tad and his loveable and zany friends are back in the all-new animated adventure TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SECRET OF KING MIDAS.  In this highly anticipated follow-up to the 2013 hit Tad, The Lost Explorer, Tad dreams of becoming an archeologist traveling the world, uncovering hidden secrets and lost treasure, but his job working construction keeps him daydreaming instead of exploring.

The chance of a lifetime comes when he is invited to attend archaeologist Sara Lavrof’s presentation of her latest discovery–the papyrus that proves the existence of the Necklace of Midas, the legendary King who turned everything he touched into solid gold.  When an evil billionaire forces Sara to help him find the enchanted talisman, Tad must rescue the girl of his dreams on a trip around the world, in this new hilarious, action-packed adventure the whole family will love!

This film is a recipient of the Dove Seal of Approval, TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SECRET OF KING MIDAS is rated PG and is an ideal family film loaded with fun, laughter and adventure.  Are you excited to see this new movie? Let me know in the comments.

 


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Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie & Download Free Porg Easter Egg Holders

My husband and our kids are huge Star Wars fans so, you can be sure they saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi in theaters last December. However, they wanted to see it again once it was over! Now, with the Blu-Ray Digital Multi-Screen Edition they can and so can you!

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

Writer/Director Rian Johnson takes fans behind the scenes, revealing production secrets and never-before-seen footage and deleted scenes

Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the next action-packed chapter of the Star Wars saga. This film earned critical acclaim and the No. 1 spot atop 2017’s list of highest-grossing films. The visually stunning movie welcomes the return of original characters, including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Yoda, R2-D2 and C-3PO and further explores the deepening journey of the saga’s new members, Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren.

Now your family can bring home the movie digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ via Movies Anywhere, 4K Ultra HD™ Blu-ray, and Blu-ray™ disc.  This release also marks Disney’s first title available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in both Dolby Vision™ HDR and Dolby Atmos® immersive audio, delivering consumers a transformative viewing experience.

Thoughts from our family:

We thought it was better than the last few Star Wars films.  The battle between Kylo Ren and Luke Skywalker was incredible. There were several nail-biting, edge of your seat scenes, that were nothing less than thrilling. It left us wanting to see the next chapter in this saga.

Director Rian Johnson takes fans on an intimate journey into the creation of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in a feature-length documentary, explaining his unique interpretation of the Force, detailing the painstaking process of creating Snoke, and deconstructing action-packed scenes from the film such as the epic space battle and the final confrontation. Johnson also reveals two exclusive scenes, featuring Andy Serkis as Snoke prior to his digital makeover, as well as 14 never-before-seen deleted scenes, in addition to his audio commentary.

Bonus features include*:

  • The Director and the Jedi – Go deep behind the scenes with writer-director Rian Johnson on an intimate and personal journey through the production of the movie—and experience what it’s like to helm a global franchise and cultural phenomenon.
  • Balance of the Force – Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.
  • Scene Breakdowns
  • Lighting the Spark: Creating the Space Battle – Get a close-up look at the epic space battle, from the sounds that help propel the action, through the practical and visual effects, to the characters who bring it all to life.
  • Snoke and Mirrors – Motion capture and Star Wars collide as the filmmakers take us through the detailed process of creating the movie’s malevolent master villain.
  • Showdown on Crait – Break down everything that went into creating the stunning world seen in the movie’s final confrontation, including the interplay between real-word locations and visual effects, reimagining the walkers, designing the crystal foxes, and much more.
  • Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only) – Writer-director Rian Johnson presents two exclusive sequences from the movie featuring Andy Serkis’ riveting, raw on-set performance before his digital makeover into Snoke.
  • Deleted Scenes – With an introduction and optional commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
  • Audio Commentary – View the movie with in-depth feature audio commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.

* Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer.

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:

FEATURE RUN TIME:                      Approximately 152 min.

RATING:                                            PG-13 in U.S.; PG in CE; PG in CF

Still can’t get enough? Visit and follow Star Wars on social media at their Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  Want more? Well, you can click the image below to print some Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Porg Easter Egg Holders. How cute are these? Let me know what you think of them and the movie and May The Force Be With You!

Download Star Wars The Last Jedi Activity Pages


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Cheers For “American Wrestler: The Wizard”, A True Underdog to Champion Film

I always laugh when anyone tells me someone is an “overnight success”, because nothing could be further from the truth. What they fail to see is the years of hard work, failures, perseverance and sheer determination that fueled the success they see. The successful person they see did not arrive at that level overnight. That false perception, is what causes so many to give up and quit pursuing their dream when they don’t see immediate results.

If you delve into the life of any successful person, you will find out just how hard they had to work, and all the challenges they had to rise above to reach their goals. As a parent, one of the things I stress the most with my children, is the importance of having a “failure is not an option” attitude if they want to reach their goals, because things will get hard. If a person doesn’t have that type of attitude, it is easy to give up, so it is important to know, failing is not a bad thing.

Failures can be great things even blessings because, they show us what is not working and give us time to readjust our sails and find a better way. A failure is not an indication that we should give up our dream, it is just a detour, a time to regroup and rethink our strategy. We often learn, that are failures are just a catalyst that help us find a better way. The only way to truly fail is to give up an quit.

The story of someone who faces extreme adversity and achieves great success is very empowering and uplifting. How many of us like to root for the underdog? Most of us do, and that is why movies with that type of plot are so popular. This weekend we sat down to watch American Wrestler: The Wizard, a movie based on the life of Ali Afshar.

 

In the film 17-year-old Ali Jahani, escapes certain death in the mine fields of Iran by relocating to a small town in California and living with his uncle.

The film takes place in the late 70’s and Ali faces a great deal of bullying and discrimination in his new school and community. He also finds himself at odds with his uncle one night, causing him to storm off into the night. Walking around town he goes up to the school and watches a wrestling match. Since he was too small for football and too short for basketball, Ali tries out for the wrestling team and makes it.

Making the team ends up being his saving grace in more ways than one. The first way it helps Ali, is that it creates common ground between him and his uncle. Ali’s uncle was going to send him back to Iran until he saw that Ali made the wrestling team. When his uncle hears Ali made the team, he tells him that he was a wrestler and begins to train Ali. Ali is thrilled that he gets to stay in the United States and begins to build a bond with his uncle through training.

Working hard and training hard, Ali becomes a star on the wrestling team and earns himself the admiration and respect of his teammates. All of that is shattered by following a tragic piece of advice his uncle offered. When all seemed to be lost, he found a way to rise above a desperate situation and once again regain his place as a star of the wrestling team. Ali’s uncle also found acceptance as the associate coach and mentor to not only Ali but all the boys on the team.

Things were going so well, until out of nowhere, tragedy strikes. Ali’s world is turned upside down, but he has to stay strong and find a way to not only succeed but to triumph above everything. This movie had us on the edge of our seat at the end rooting for Ali in one of his biggest challenges. This inspirational film drives home the message, that you can’t give up when things get tough.

The actor who plays Ali’s uncle is none other than, Ali Afshar himself.  The movie also stars Jon Voight, William Fichtner and George Kosturos as Ali. You can buy this movie now and learn more on the film’s website. Let me know if you have seen this movie or if you have plans to. I would love to hear what you thought about it.

 

 

 


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