Cloudstreet DVD Review

Adapted by Tim Winton from his award-winning novel, the acclaimed Australian miniseries Cloudstreet debuts on DVD from Acorn Media onSeptember 4, 2012. Exquisitely filmed with an outstanding ensemble cast led by Kerry Fox (An Angel at My Table) and Essie Davis (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries),Cloudstreet broadcast on Ovation in April 2012 as part of their “The Best You’ve Never Seen” premieres, and the miniseries was nominated for eight Australian Film Institute awards, including best miniseries. Set around Perth from 1943–1963, it tells the story of two rural families, each scarred by catastrophe, who end up sharing a large, ramshackle house that shudders and groans with memories of its own. The DVD 3-disc set includes all six-episodes and a bonus disc with five behind-the-scenes segments ($49.99, AcornOnline.com).

The Lambs are hardworking, God-fearing, and devastated by a horrific accident. The Pickles are luckless and derelict, blown by the winds of fate and their own bad decisions. The families couldn’t be more different, yet they find common ground beneath the same roof. Years pass and they stay together, shouting, brawling, laughing, loving, and enduring.

The Australian Society of Authors recently designated Cloudstreet the most popular Australian novel.

BONUS: Behind-the-scenes segments including Adapting an Australian Classic (41 min.), Creating the World of Cloudstreet (7 min.), From Novel to Script to Screen (7 min.), Creating the Magic (6 min.), Creating the Music (6 min.), and more

 Our Thoughts

Cloudstreet is period drama at its best. Set in Perth Australia between 1943-1963, this mini series introduces you to two rural families struggling with grief and loss. They stumble upon a beautiful old home, and despite their differences, they live together for twenty years under the same roof. There are moments that will make you laugh and moments that will make you cry as you see all these unlikely companions have to endure. The cast is suburb and the costumes are fitting for the era. You really like you're a part of the family as you watch them deal with the daily trails of a difficult life. The series is based on a best selling Australian novel of the same title, and I know that know I am going to have to read the book as well!


If you want to get the advantage a mini series that will leave you on the breathless from the drama and suspense of the old world, than this is the box set for you. You can order Cloudstreet for only $49.99 at Acorn Media.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

I SPY TWO GAME PACK for Wii™ Review

Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today announced the release of three compilation game packs for Nintendo’s gaming platforms:  I SPY TWO GAME PACK for Wii™ and I SPY TWO GAME PACK and SMART GAMES FOR KIDS TWO GAME PACK forNintendo DS^TM. Each game pack includes bestselling titles from Scholastic Media’s interactive portfolio; the titles will be available this fall at $19.99 each.

“Families look for and deserve great value and quality when it comes to products for their children,” said Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media and Executive Vice President of Scholastic Inc. “In that spirit, we are delighted to offer these new gaming compilations featuring some of Scholastic's most enduring and popular brands.”

The I SPY TWO GAME PACK for Nintendo DS^TM includes two award-winning titles from the popular I SPY franchise – I SPY Fun House and I SPY Universe. Together, the games feature more than 50 riddles and over 200 levels of play for seek-and-find fans of all ages. To escape the topsy-turvy world in I SPY Fun House, players must earn tickets by completing games, riddles, and the ultimate Prize Popper challenge. I SPY Universe takes players on a different kind of puzzle-solving adventure – a trip through the I SPY cosmos. Players unlock new planets and explore the universe while searching for over 400 objects in 36 I SPY riddles and playing six brain-teasing games.

I SPY enthusiasts can continue the brain-teasing fun with over 70 unique riddles and more than 60 interactive mini-games in the I SPY TWO GAME PACK for Wii™. Included in this Game Pack are Ultimate I SPY, the first I SPY game to feature 3D environments, and the chill-inducing I SPY Spooky Mansion. Ultimate I SPY takes players through an eye-popping wonderland where they search above and below objects to solve riddles, puzzles, and mini games. I SPY Spooky Mansion offers thrills and chills with a trip through a haunted mansion. Led by a clever skeleton, players participate in mini-games, brain teasers, scavenger hunts, and 33 I SPY riddles as they try to find their way out of the mansion.

 Where to Buy

 I SPY TWO GAME PACK for Wii™ is available now in stores nationwide. You can also pick up a copy online at Amazon for only $14.95.

Our Thoughts

I always love a bargain, and you can't ask for a better deal than two video games for one low price. But even more important than the price tag is the fact that the I Spy games aren't loaded with violence. These educational games get kids thinking with their interactive features including riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers. There are over 400 different objects to search out and tons of other games, making for hours of educational fun. The Spooky Mansion was definitely our favorite part and lots of fun for the upcoming Halloween holiday. An adorable skeleton leads you along the way as you embark on scavenger hunts and solve riddles that will definitely get you in the mood for the season. The graphics are colorful and fun, and the games are easy enough for most grade school aged children. If you are looking for a game that will get your kids minds working, I Spy is definitely a great choice.

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way***

Johnny Depp in Dark Shadows: Blog App and Giveaway

Warner Bros. Pictures is proud to announce the release of Dark Shadows on DVD and Blu-Ray October 2nd 2012; along with the Dark Shadows Blog App! 

From the incredible mind of Tim Burton comes the hit film Dark Shadows, based on the classic television series!  Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) has been trapped for two centuries by an evil witch (Eva Green) who just happens to be an ex lover.  Barnabas now has to struggle with the ever changing 1970s and save his families business!  With an all star cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jonny Lee Miller and more, Dark Shadows will be sure to whet your appetite for fun. Here are just some of the fun features of the app.

·      Are You Creepy Enough Quiz! Do your friends refer to you as a Child of the Night or do you shiver at the thought of a creepy crawly? Take the Are You Creepy Enough quiz to find out.

·      Barnabas’ Terror Trivia! Are you a Barnabas buff? Take the 3 truths and a lie trivia all about Barnabas Collins and you can unlock clips and downloads from Dark Shadows. 

·      Dark Shadows Horror-Scope! Whether you are a Virgo Vampire or a Transylvanian Taurus, you can get your custom hauntified Horror-Scope.

And that's not all! Warner Brothers is also going to give one of my readers the change to win a copy of the  Dark Shadows DVD/Blu-ray combo! To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on 10/15/12. If you have already won this title on another blog, you are not eligible to enter or win. Open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Warner Brothers for offering this fantastic prize

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Please note that the assets included within this message were delivered to me in promotion of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release of the film DARK SHADOWS.  Warner Bros. supplied these materials to me. All opinions are still my own.***

Holy Flying Circus DVD/Blu-Ray Combo DVD Review

British Comedy has always had a unique and original flare. There are many BBC movies I have enjoyed over the years, is Monte Python and the Holy Grail. Holy Flying Circus give you a behind the scenes look at this films and the controversy it caused, but it does it all in a humorous way. The stars of Mighty Python face off against a very Catholic broadcaster, and the debates that ensue are not to be missed, no matter what side of the debate your own. Here is a little more about the film, direct from Acorn Media.

 

Silver Spring, MD — Offering a Pythonesque peek behind the scenes of one of the most notorious—and beloved—films from the legendary troupe, the fantastical docudrama Holy Flying Circus debuts in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Acorn Media on September 4, 2012. A BAFTA nominee for Best Single Drama, this hilariously heretical docudrama reimagines the controversy behind Monty Python’s Life of Brian and the resulting debate pitting Michael Palin and John Cleese against a Church of England bishop and a staunchly Catholic broadcaster.

Broadcast on the Ovation Network in April 2012 as part of their “The Best You’ve Never Seen” premieres, Holy Flying Circus is written by Oscar^®-nominated writer Tony Roche (In the Loop) and stars Darren Boyd (Little Dorrit), Charles Edwards (The Shell Seekers), Roy Marsden (P.D. James mysteries), Tom Fisher (The Illusionist), and Stephen Fry (Jeeves and Wooster) as God. Bonus features include deleted scenes, stills, and outtakes ($34.99, AcornOnline.com) 

Holy Flying Circus reimagines the controversy surrounding Monty Python’s 1979 film, Life of Brian, which was greeted with widespread outcry and accusations of blasphemy. Matters reached a head when Michael Palin (played by Charles Edwards) and John Cleese (played by Darren Boyd) agreed to take part in a BBC talk show about Life of Brian with a Church of England bishop and a staunchly Catholic broadcaster. The ensuing TV debate put the Pythons in their most absurd role yet: the voice of reason.

If you are interested in checking out Holy Flying Circus for yourself, it is available at Acorn Media  for the low price of $34.99 for the DVD/Blu-ray Combo.  If you are looking for a good laugh, then this is the perfect documentary for you.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. **

Bones: The Complete Seventh Season out on Blu-ray & DVD on October 9th & Bones Mug Giveaway (3 Winners)

TV Moms: On-screen& Off-screen

In Season 7 of Bones, Brennan welcomes her most challenging role yet when she becomes a first time mother.  When Actress Emily Deschanel announced her pregnancy in the season before, the writers found a way to combine Deschanel’s real life news and her alter-ego’s storyline. In this feature, we will take a look at other actresses who’s real life pregnancy intertwined with their characters’ on-screen lives. 

JENNIFER GARNER

When Jennifer Garner was pregnant with her first child, Violet, the pregnancy was worked into the final season of Alias, making kick-ass Sydney Bristow one spy with a bun in the oven.

LISA KUDROW

Lisa Kudrow’s real-life pregnancy was written into the 4^th and 5^th season of Friends.  However, instead of making the actress give birth to a baby of her own, the writers crafted a storyline where she became the surrogate mother to her brother’s triplets.  

ALYSON HANNIGAN

When Alyson Hannigan became pregnant with her second child, her character Lily on How I Met Your Mother was already expecting so the writers didn’t have to change much with the story line.  Talk about perfect timing!

JANUARY JONES

The writers of Mad Men took a different route when January Jones announced her pregnancy. Instead of making her character, Betty Draper, pregnant, Jones made her character fat by creating a story line about a tumor in her thyroid.  A fat suit was brought in to cover Jones’ bump and perpetuate the “fat” character arch in the season. 

JENNA FISCHER

Life certainly imitated art when Jenna Fischer announced she was expecting first child with her husband, Lee Kirk.  Fischer, who plays Pam in The Office, was already scheduled to give birth to a second child in the show after Pam and Jim had a little Valentine’s Day lovin’.  The story line was already in place and but it was only when Fischer shot the episode did she find out she was really preggers.

Where to Buy

 

Bones: The Complete Seventh Season will be available on October 7th. You can also pre-order a copy of the DVD or Blu-ray on Amazon.

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Bones, we have three 3 Bones Mugs to giveaway to three lucky winners!  To enter, just complete the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends 10/15/2012 and is open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Fox Home Entertainment for offering this great prize.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.  Please note that I  am not responsible for the delivery of this prize and can not be held accountable if, for any reason, is it not received. Furthermore, I am in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. ***

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Royal Rescue Coming October 2nd!

Lady Knight Dora is joined by the legendary Don Quixote in the brand-new DVD, Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Royal Rescue. The DVD includes a double-length, never-before-aired episode, “Dora’s Royal Rescue,” which features the voices of Andy Garcia as Don Quixote and Placido Domingo as Malambruno. Also included, is the new-to-DVD episode, “Dora’s Knighthood Adventure,” which features the voice of Garcia as Don Quixote. In addition, for a limited time only, kids can enjoy a free Dora coloring and activity book. Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Royal Rescue will be released on DVD on Oct. 2, 2012 for the suggested retail price of $14.99.

Dora’s Royal Rescue: Join Lady Knight Dora in a double-length adventure, as she and her faithful squire Boots embark on a noble quest to help Rocinante the Horse save his knight, Don Quixote (voiced by Andy Garcia), who has been locked in Story Castle by the mean Malambruno (voiced by Placido Domingo)! They must dance past a giant spider and overcome windmills to rescue Don Quixote.

Dora’s Knighthood Adventure!: Dora, Boots, Rocinante the horse, and Dapple the donkey go on a heroic adventure to rescue a princess so they can become knights just like Don Quixote (voiced by Andy Garcia).

Where to Buy

Dora's Royal Rescue will be available in stores nationwide beginning October 2nd, 2012. You can also pre-order a copy on Amazon for only $9.99.



***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Cartoon Network's Almost Naked Animals Review

Are you ready for a family-friendly trip to the Banana Cabana, a beachfront hotel full of fun, sun and mayhem, without leaving the comfort of home? On September 25, 2012 Volume 1 of Almost Naked Animals, Cartoon Network’s top-rated animated series for kids aged 6-11, will be available on DVD. In addition to the DVD release:

·         The Almost Naked Animals “Online Super Game” will also launch on September 25th.
·         Café Press has partnered with 9 Story Entertainment to launch a new online store on September 25th, featuring Almost Naked Animals t-shirts, noteband more.
 
Based on the quirky designs of Noah Z. Jones, (creator of Fish Hooks), Almost Naked Animals features an ensemble cast of underwear-clad animals, led by Howie, the fun-loving, hospitality challenged canine manager of the beachfront hotel, Banana Cabana.

My kids got chance to review the Almost Naked Animals Volume 1 DVD along with the official “Banana Cabana Welcome Package”, complete with the following:
·         Almost Naked Animals Volume 1 DVD
·         Almost Naked Animals tote bag
·         Almost Naked Animals t-shirt and more fun goodies

They already loved the show and my children were so excited to  have the opportunity to check out the DVD and the cool new products.  Naked Animals is a hilarious cartoon that revolves around a group of animal friends who are, well...naked. They do wear clothes, at least underwear, but they are naked in the sense that they have no fur. All these fur-less friends work at a hotel and they have crazy adventures that range from inter species romantic interludes to supernatural insanity. Howie is the hairless dog that is the manager, but he is joined by other unique characters including Bunny, Narwhal, Piggy, Duck and more.  The Its a Party DVD brings together some of the best episodes in one convenient disk. Both the DVD and the t-shirts and school supplies would be a great stocking stuffer this upcoming holiday season. You can order  these fun items at the Almost Naked Animals Website or get the DVD online at Amazon for only $6.99.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***