Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit the Frog—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon. Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” is directed by James Bobin and produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Bobin wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Stoller, who is also executive producer with John G. Scotti. Featuring music from Academy Award®-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie.
MUPPETS MOST WANTED is now in theaters!
Author: FCA Editor
Enough Said on DVD
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini star in this delightful story of two people entering a new stage in their lives. Enough Said is sweet, sensitive, and absolutely charming.
Eva (Louis-Dreyfus) is a divorced massage therapist who is facing the empty nest syndrome when her daughter is preparing to leave for college. Albert (Gandolfini) is a divorced man who is also facing the empty nest syndrome with his own daughter. The two meet and start dating and lo-and-behold discover they thoroughly enjoy each other’s company.
Then Eva discovers her new client Marianne (Catherine Keener) is Albert’s ex-wife. Through their conversations Marianne discloses all the things about her ex that drove her crazy. Little by little Eva notices those same things, and although they don’t really bother her, the notion that they bothered Marianne starts seeping into her relationship with Albert.
The story focuses on the notion that one person’s garbage is another person’s treasure. Louis-Dreyfus takes charge of her role and embodies this character that is going through changes in her life while trying to come to terms with her emotions and feelings about all aspects of her relationships. And Gandolfini, in one of his last roles, is adorable and loveable as a man who just wants to be himself and wants someone to love him just the way he is and doesn’t want to change him.
Toni Collette co-stars as Eva’s best friend. Bonus features on the DVD include featurettes about the characters and the story. Enough Said is an endearing film. While it is sensitive and emotional, there are many laugh-out-loud moments that will charm viewers. It is difficult to view Gandolfini’s performance without thinking of his untimely death. He is like a cuddly teddy bear in this role and viewers will most likely cherish his character and the actor.
While gaining a deeper understanding of what his ex considers his faults, Eva must search her own heart to find her own feelings. Enough Said is rated PG-13 for sexual content, thematic material and brief language. It is also available on Blu-ray.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.
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The CYBERCHASE Movie
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The future of Cyberspace is at stake in the one-hour special, “The CYBERCHASE Movie.” Hacker and his bumbling henchbots Buzz and Delete are drilling inside the nature preserve Ecotopia when they carelessly set off a slime geyser, destroying many animals’ habitats and causing overcrowding. Matt, Jackie, Inez and Digit are called in to rescue the animals and restore harmony to Ecotopia. They team up with Ollie (voiced by Rodriguez), a Junior Ranger, and quickly learn that harmony on Ecotopia isn’t their only problem. Can the kids restore Ecotopia, rescue their friends and prevent Cyberspace from being lost to Hacker forever?
The CYBERCHASE Movie, premiering Tuesday, April 15 at 4:30pm on PBS.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” finds Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off assailants sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.
Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1941, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a., directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, and stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp and Hayley Atwell, with Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Into the Storm – New Trailer
In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot.
Told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, thrill-seeking amateurs, and courageous townspeople, “Into the Storm” throws you directly into the eye of the storm to experience Mother Nature at her most extreme.
New Line Cinema production, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Broken Road production, “Into the Storm.” The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.
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It’s a Small World Animator’s Collection Dolls
You either love it or you hate it. The song is either endearing or annoying. If you are in the category of loving the Disney ride “It’s a Small World” and you find the tune delightful and upbeat, then this new product is for you. From the wonderful folks at Disney comes the Animator’s Collection It’s a Small World Dolls. Can you say ‘precious’?
These dolls are inspired by the original popular attraction in Fantasyland. Legendary Disney artist Mary Blair’s illustrations were the inspiration for the designers at the Disney Store team when they set out to create these new dolls. They look just like you plucked them out of the ride.
The dolls sing a verse from the song “It’s a Small World,” in English and then in their native language. If you cannot take the song one more minute, don’t fret. There is a switch to turn off the music. That way everyone can enjoy the delightful little doll who represents a culture all her own and if someone simply cannot take one more verse of that song, they don’t have to. Yes, I know there are those who simply detest this song. Perhaps it is because it’s been around a long time. In any case, it is part of this adorable new series of dolls and the song can be played whenever you want.
After extensive research, the creative team settled on these seven dolls: Japan, Africa, India, France, UK, Holland, and Hawaii. There are plans to add more countries in the future. Besides these sweet little singing dolls, there are four plus animals to round out the Small World assortment of toys: a Panda, a Jaguar, a Hippo, and a Poodle. The plush animals help compliment the international feeling of the dolls.
The dolls themselves are created for ages 3 and above. They stand about 16 inches high and are made from a hard vinyl. The arms, legs, and necks are articulated so they can be posed in many positions. They can stand on their own or you can purchase doll stands if you feel more secure about that.
The Dolls
The Japanese doll is dressed in a beautiful kimono with an obi and wears a pair of wooden sandals. The African doll wears a tribal outfit with beads. The Indian doll wears a pink sari with a beautiful head veil and beads. The lovely French doll wears feathers on her head and is dressed in a cute little dancing dress ala a French nightclub. The British doll is dressed like a miniature palace guard, or Beefeater. The Dutch doll wears wooden shoes and a traditional Dutch outfit and hat. And the Hawaiian doll has a grass skirt, a yellow top, and a large Aloha lei around her neck. And they all have sweet and irresistible smiles. I dare you to look at them and not have a smile or a grin. They bring out the happy child in all of us.
Push their tummies and they sing, “It’s a small world after all…” Push again and the song is in their native language.
They are all so adorable, it might be difficult to select only one. While at D23, I heard many people ordering the entire set. It’s up to you. If you have a special country you want to highlight, or just like a particular costume, then that is the doll for you. Whichever you select, you will be happy with the craftsmanship and the story of love each doll brings with it.
The Story of It’s a Small World
The ride was originally created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The Sherman brothers wrote the iconic song.
This exhibition/ride was “A salute to the children of the world.” The attraction was extremely popular. It soon became a destination for visitors at Disneyland, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
In 2008 the attraction was closed for refurbishment. When it reopened, all the magic and love it originally brought to millions of guests was enhanced by additional characters…Disney characters. Look closely and you’ll see one or your favorite Disney character alongside some of the other children of the world.
While the dolls in the ride are animatronic, the dolls in this new Animators Collection are not as sophisticated. They do sing, when their button is pushed (and you can turn the switch so they don’t sing), but these dolls are meant to be held, loved, and admired in your own home.
It’s a Small World Animator’s Collection
It’s a Small World Animator’s Collection Dolls list for $29.95 each and are available in Disney Stores and DisneyStore.com.
Which one will you chose? They each bring a loving spirit to any home and will be a special treat this holiday season. “It’s a small world after all!” Do you think we should send these dolls to the World Leaders? Perhaps they never got the message.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.
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The New Dyson Cool Fans
Perhaps you’ve seen these fans in stores or even on television shows. They are becoming quite popular and for good reason. The Dyson Cool fan is an effective as well as safe way to cool a room and now the new Dyson Cool is even quieter than the previous models. As a matter of fact, The Noise Abatement Society awarded their “Quiet Mark” to the new Air Multiplier technology used in the new generation of Dyson fans. In these days of being bombarded everywhere with noise, the quieter a fan is, the better. Face it, everywhere you go people are talking on their phones, cars are roaring down the street, and radios are blasting. The last thing we need is a noisy fan. But what we do need is a fan that works. And this Dyson Cool is both quiet while providing a steady stream of cool air. Summer is coming, so this is the perfect time to start thinking about ways to cool off.
With no blades or wire cages to catch little fingers, the Dyson Cool fan looks like it came off the Star Trek Enterprise. It consists of a base and a top. The top is a technically advanced way of collecting air and channeling through the aperture to then blow out, or project, a powerful high velocity airflow. That’s as technical as I can get, but the 65 engineers who worked on this product figured out a way to make this space-age machine work even better than the fans we are used to.
This fan is easy to use. There is a small remote control which you can keep next to you and when you need some air, just push the button. I keep mine on my desk and the fan is across the room. When the room gets stuffy or warm, I just press the button and in a moment I am cooled down, without the noise of whirring or blowing. It is not absolutely silent, but it sure is quieter than any other fan I have ever used.
What is cool (excuse the pun) about this product is the design. It can fit into any environment and looks like a piece of art. Really. And with no blades to clean, it is easier to manage. It was always a nuisance to stick my hands through the grill of my old fan to dust off the blades. With this unit just take a cloth and gently wipe around the aperture.
The safety issue of this product is something families with young kids should keep in mind. Without blades, little hands and fingers will stay safe.
In these days, when we are all trying to save money and electricity when the power grids are running low, it makes sense to turn off air conditioners and cool the one room in which we all gather. That is usually the room with the television, or the kitchen. Why not set up the Dyson Cool and use that instead of running the a/c? Once you try it you will see how powerful this little unit really is. It is truly energy-efficient. And, it has a timer so it can be set to turn off after preset intervals.
As someone who continually receives products to test, I can in all honesty say this is one item I will be using. Why do I like it so much? Because it is aesthetically beautiful, it is the safest fan I have ever used, it is quieter than any other fan I have used, It is easy to clean, I trust the Dyson name, and it does a great job. No, I am not being paid by Dyson to write this. I honestly feel it is a wonderful and useful product.
This new Dyson Cool fan is available in three color combinations: iron/blue, black/nickel/ and white/silver. There are several sizes, which range in price from $299.99 to $449.99. Check out the Dyson.com website to select the perfect fan for your needs.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.
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Mr. & Mrs. Murder – Season 1 DVD
Mr. & Mrs. Murder is an Australian TV series that stars Shaun Micallef and Kat Stewart as Charlie and Nicola Buchanan, a married couple who solve crimes. The Buchanan’s are actually crime scene cleaners, however they cannot stop at just cleaning up after murders. These two prefer to work on their own investigations, with the permission of the local police detective.
The first episode has the couple cleaning a hotel room after a murder has occurred. They are a witty and charming couple who simply cannot let things go. And their quick intelligence and talent of putting clues together makes them successful at solving crimes.
What also makes this couple fun to watch are their personal interactions and quips with each other. This is definitely a lighthearted show that is more about the couple than the actual crimes. It is a fun way to incorporate crime stories. And when you think about it, cleaning up crime scenes is in itself collecting evidence, so these two simply take their jobs one step further.
Mr. & Mrs. Murder is a fun and witty whodunit show starring two charming characters. Season One (called Series 1) includes all 13 episodes as well as a few bonus features. There are interviews with the cast and a cute behind-the-scenes featurette.
From 1979-1984 Stefanie Powers and Robert Wagner starred in another husband/wife TV series, Hart to Hart, about a couple that solves crimes. That was not unlike the theme of this show, with the exception that the Buchanan’s actually do have the job of cleaning up crime scenes and they are not rich, like the Harts.
Mr. & Mrs. Murder is not rated, however it contains sexual references and drug use so it is not appropriate for children.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.
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My Little Pony – Friendship Magic: A Dash of Awesome DVD GIVEAWAY
Get ready for some great adventures with Rainbow Dash and her best friends Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity as they fly high with five episodes from the popular series. These five Rainbow Dash-related episodes include “May the Best Pet Win” from season 2, “The Mysterious Mare Do Well” from season 2, “Read It and Weep” from season 2, “Daring Don’t” from season 4, and “Rainbow Falls” from season 4.
The DVD includes a bonus sing-along.
We have ten (10) DVDs to give away to pony-loving fans. To be eligible to win a copy of My Little Pony- Friendship is Magic: A Dash of Awesome, email us at [email protected] with “Awesome Giveaway” in the title. Please supply your name, address, phone number and email address (so we can let you know if you are a winner).
The deadline for this giveaway is April 16, 2014.
And while you are waiting to see if you are a winner, try some of the fun activities.
Eva Marie Saint on TCM
Described by host Robert Osborne as having “One of the most charmed and well-rounded careers in show business,” Eva Marie Saint is an actress whose career has spanned the decades. She began in television when “television was just starting,” she explains, and her first feature film, On the Waterfront in 1954, won her the Academy Award.
In this honest and charming interview, Eva Marie Saint candidly discusses her life, her marriage, her upbringing, her career, and her leading men, and she does so with a great sense of humor. Her cute stories of co-stars and location shoots add a special dimension to the conversation and endear the actress to the audience and the viewers.
A Hatful of Rain, Raintree County, North by Northwest, Exodus, The Sandpiper, The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, Grand Prix, The Stalking Moon, and Because of Winn-Dixie are just a small list of her feature film projects. And her television list is even longer.
Viewers will understand more about this woman in this public interview. She came from an old fashioned family. She has been married to the same man for over 60 years. She has a special part in her heart for many of her leading men.
About her husband, director Jeffrey Hayden, she says, “We are on the same wavelength.” They understand each other, however if he had been an attorney or in some other business, she might not have continued her acting career.
About James Garner, her co-star in Grand Prix, she says, “Jim is a wonderful man and all actors love him.” She could add that audiences love him as well.
On a personal note, I had the pleasure of interviewing Eva Marie Saint in 2005 when she was promoting her movie Because of Winn-Dixie. I came away from that interview with a great admiration and appreciation for the woman. She was charming and enjoyed talking to the press. She also regaled some fun stories about her past.
TCM will premier this special interview with Eva Marie Saint Monday, March 31, 2014. That night they will also air On the Waterfront, Raintree County, and North by Northwest.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.
Follow her on Twitter
Like her on Facebook