Disney on Ice GIVEAWAY

Posted on March 11, 2014April 18, 2014 by FCA Editor

In this lavish ice show, everyone’s favorite sweethearts, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, take audiences on a fun-filled adventure, sharing memories with Disney friends including Goofy & Donald Duck; the beloved Disney Princesses; Chip & Dale; Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket; Belle & The Beast plus many more – and magical moments from Disney’s Aladdin, Mulan, The Lion King plus Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Toy Story!

Disney on Ice is coming to Ontario, California and Long Beach, California in April.

We have vouchers for a Family Four-Pack. These vouchers must be redeemed at the box office for tickets. They are good for April 16-17 in Ontario or April 23 -24 in Long Beach.

To be eligible to win a voucher for 4 tickets, email us at [email protected] with “Disney on Ice 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 1, 2014.

Frozen Combo Pack

Posted on March 11, 2014March 12, 2014 by FCA Editor

Frozen is a beautifully animated film with a lot of heart. It just received the Academy Award for Best Animated Film and the song “Let it Go” won for best song. If you haven’t seen this film, now is the time to pick up the Collector’s Edition, and if you have seen the film, it’s time to see it again.

Frozen is the story of two sisters – Elsa and Anna. They are fun loving little princesses and completely devoted to each other. Elsa was born with a gift of powers she doesn’t know how to control. She can make snow and ice, but after an accident puts Anna’s life in danger, Elsa decides to stay away from her sister. She doesn’t want to accidentally cause any harm to little Anna. Anna has no idea why her sister won’t play with her any more and feels abandoned.
The film then flashes forward several years when it’s time for Elsa’s coronation. Finally Elsa’s powers are revealed and their kingdom of Arendelle is put into a deep freeze. Elsa runs away and Anna goes looking for her.

This is Disney’s version of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen.” There are several memorable characters besides the sisters. There is Kristoff, a sweet guy whose best pal is Sven, a reindeer. And there is Olaf, a snowman that can talk. The snowman talks but the reindeer doesn’t. How’s that for a switch?

Besides the award-winning song, there are many other songs that add to the enjoyment of this film. For instance, imagine little Olaf singing about what he will do when summer finally comes. The little fellow has no idea that snow melts in the heat.

With the amazing animation, a sweet story of sisterly love and devotion, memorable songs and adorable characters, Frozen is a magical movie. It’s an enchanting fairy tale brought to the screen by the talented folks at Disney who put their talents together to create this stunning film.
The bonus features on the Collector’s Edition combo pack include deleted scenes introduced by the filmmakers. Sometimes scenes are removed from a film due to time constraints or because they just don’t move the story in the right direction. That is true for these scenes. In the film Elsa is not cruel however one of the deleted scenes depicts her as forbidding. There are two scenes with Kristoff that did not make it into the final cut, and probably rightly so.

In other bonus features viewers learn that Walt Disney had originally envisioned a ride at Disneyland based on “The Snow Queen.” Imagine, in the heat of summer, taking a chilling (literally) ride in Disneyland. Unfortunately, that never came to be, but who knows? Maybe with the success of this movie it might still come to fruition.

This story has been circulating around the studio since the 1940s. Walt Disney always wanted to push imagination as far as possible, and looked for fairy tales to retell in his own style.

A final bonus feature is the highly touted short “Get a Horse” that ran in theaters before the feature film. This adorable animated short is a creative marvel blending technology with artistry into a fun and ingenious little film.

Frozen is a “must have” for families. It is witty, beautiful, creative, and more than anything, endearing. It’s a movie that is just as enjoyable to watch the first time as it is the tenth. It truly is an instant classic. The Collector’s Edition combo pack includes a Blu-ray and a DVD along with a Digital Copy. Frozen is rated PG for some action and mild rude humor.

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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How I Met Your Mother Comes to an End

Posted on March 10, 2014 by FCA Editor

The hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother is ending its long run on March 31, 2014 with an hour-long finale. The cast recently gathered together with members of the Television Critics Association on the set of the show to talk about their success and their feelings.

“Once season 4 started,” Neil Patrick Harris (Barney) explained, “then the syndication wheels started turning and it seemed like [we had] a longer story to tell. The first two seasons seemed very ‘on the bubble’ the entire time, which actually I thought was good for us and for the show. It gave us the opportunity to come up with our own sense of humor, and sometimes when a show is thrust into success right away, then there’s high expectations for them to come up with terrific stuff super fast, [but] we got to develop a great vocabulary and weird little inside jokes so that by the time fans started watching it, it had found its own voice. So I liked the slow-burn elements to our show.”

Alyson Hannigan (Lily) said that the year they were picked up for two seasons at once was when she realized they were “out of the bubble” and were staying on the air for a while. And the success of the show was a surprise for Jason Segal (Marshall) who explained, “I had been part of a couple shows that I loved being on and that I really liked and they got cancelled within the first season. So I really felt like there was no way you could equate quality with whether or not it lasted, so I was always ready for the show to be cancelled, and then the fact that we got along so well made it almost a sure thing to be cancelled. It’s just the best gift ever that it stuck around for so long. We lucked out.” They lucked out for nine years!

“We really did have an eight‑year plan from the pilot,” Craig Thomas, executive producer and co-creator, acknowledged. “We kind of knew how we wanted to end it, which turns out to be nine years, which is great, but we were so naive that it would just keep going. The beginning of season 2, we shot part of what is going to air in the series finale with those kids who are now 53 and 62.” So, that being said, the viewers will not be disappointed with the way the writers finish the show. They have had a plan all along and have been given the chance to follow it through.

The cast and showrunners have become very close over the years. “Every Monday for a large part of the first season we met at a place nearby for breakfast, and it was really sweet,” Josh Radnor told the gathered journalists. “At the beginning of this year, I thought that we should meet before the first table read for breakfast at this place, and I sent out an email, and within 20 minutes everyone had responded, so we met and had some food. How is that for a story?”

Over the past nine years the group has gone through a lot of things on and off screen. Jason Segal was emotional when he said, “We watched each other go through, like, some really serious life stuff. People have gotten married and have children. That’s a really special thing. As the characters evolved, all of our lives did as well, and some of it paralleled what we’ve kind of gone through as people. It’s been like ‑‑ this is the longest I’ve known any group of people besides my family. You have friends from way back, but you know, high school is [only] four years.” This group has been together over twice as long as high school lasts.

Neil Patrick Harris was contemplative when discussing how their lives will change once the series ends. “I find that our friendships, since we’re working in such close quarters together for half of the year, our friendships are kind of based around that a little bit. We spend a lot of time together, so when we do break off and it’s hiatus and we have a couple months off, we tend to go into our own little worlds, and then we all reconvene. So I think the yearning and the loss and the friendship stuff, at least speaking personally, will probably be felt more when that doesn’t happen again.” As he spoke the other cast members nodded in agreement. “You know, like when we see each other, we catch up and we fill each other in on everything, everything, like I tell them things – arguments with David (his partner) that I probably shouldn’t tell – because they’re my close work friends that we have this great bond, but then I don’t see Jason for three months during the off time. Then we see each other where we’re immediately sort of fast friends [again].
So, how will the show end? You’ll have to tune in on March 30 to find out. The journalists were not even privy to the ending story, although Craig Thomas did say, “The show deserves the best possible ending that it could get, and the fans who stuck with us deserve that, and that’s what we intend to give.”

Viewers were first introduced to How I Met Your Mother in 2005, and on March 30, 2014 they will say goodbye.

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I’ll See You in My Dreams on DVD

Posted on March 10, 2014March 10, 2014 by FCA Editor

Doris Day and Danny Thomas teamed up to star in this story of lyricist Gus Kahn. This 1951 black and white film is filled with music by the famed lyricist and his writing partners. I’ll See You in My Dreams is a fun and melodic look at the old days of the music industry when sheet music was king and no one ever heard of MP3s, and talking pictures were just making their debut.

Even though this is dated, this movie is a memorable story of the times and the life of Gus Kahn. Some of his songs include “I Wish I Had a Girl”, “Pretty Baby”, “The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)”, “My Buddy”, “Toot, Toot, Tootsie”, “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby”, “Carolina in the Morning”, “Love Me or Leave Me”, “Makin’ Whoopee”, and “I’ll See You in My Dreams”.

Kahn collaborated with many musicians, including Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin, Sigmund Romberg, Jerome Kern, Richard Whiting, Walter Donaldson, and others. Even his wife Grace put some of his lyrics to music. This movie does not include all of Kahn’s memorable songs, but there are many that weave their way into the fabric of this story about his life. “Side by Side”, “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, “Ain’t We Got Fun?” are well known today and have been re-popularized by modern singers. “Goofus” was written in the 1930s yet in 1976 The Carpenters put out their version of the song, “Side by Side” found its way into the 1991 Bruce Willis movie Hudson Hawk, “Ain’t We Got Fun?” wound up in a 2010 episode of True Blood as well as an episode of Law & Order: SVU.

The songs by Kahn have stood the test of time. Even though this movie is set in the first half of the 20^th century, the songs penned by Gus Kahn are still being recorded, have become part of pop culture, and are just as entertaining in 2014 as they were in the 1900s. And this film shows off both the acting and singing talents of Danny Thomas and Doris Day.

I’ll See You In My Dreams is a wonderful biopic about a couple completely dedicated to each other. It highlights the talents of its stars as well as those of lyricist Kahn. It’s part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be ordered through their website at www.wbshop.com.

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Disney’s The Pirate Fairy Sneak Peek

Posted on March 10, 2014 by FCA Editor

From the world of “Peter Pan” comes “The Pirate Fairy,” a swashbuckling new adventure about Zarina (voice of Christina Hendricks), a smart and ambitious dust-keeper fairy who’s captivated by Blue Pixie Dust and its endless possibilities. When Zarina’s wild ideas get her into trouble, she flees Pixie Hollow and joins forces with the scheming pirates of Skull Rock, who make her captain of their ship. Tinker Bell (voice of Mae Whitman) and her friends must embark on an epic adventure to find Zarina, and together they go sword-to-sword with the band of pirates led by a cabin boy named James (voice of Tom Hiddleston), who’ll soon be known as Captain Hook himself. With laughter, heart, magic and thrills, “The Pirate Fairy” sets sail April 1, 2014.

Meet the Guardians of the Galaxy

Posted on March 8, 2014 by FCA Editor

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as the
voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael and Benicio del Toro as The Collector

Rocket Raccoon

Groot

Gamora

Drax

Peter Quill

The Boxtrolls

Posted on March 7, 2014March 7, 2014 by FCA Editor

Story: A quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher, comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnifred. Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.

Release Date: September 26th, 2014

The Duttons in Concert

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 by FCA Editor

If you look up the word “talent” in the dictionary, don’t be surprised if the name “Dutton” comes up. This is one family with a whole lot of talent. And, a good part about this singing/dancing/musical group, besides the amazing fact that they are all one family, is that they have two venues in two areas of the country. So, if you are visiting the Phoenix area in the winter, when the majority of the country is in a deep freeze, you can thaw out in Arizona and attend a Dutton concert at their theater in Mesa. And, if you’re visiting the entertainment city of Branson, Missouri in the spring/summer/fall, you can take in a lively show at the Dutton Theater in Branson.

The Duttons

The Duttons started with Dean and Sheila, who had seven children. They began touring with their talented family and this little singing/dancing/musical group soon found they had a full-time career. They settled down and bought their own theater in Branson, and have since added the Dutton Inn where guests can stay in a clean, comfortable environment while in the city enjoying not only the Duttons concert, but also other events in and around Branson.

Their seven children have produced 25 grandchildren. Many of the kids as well as the spouses take part in the shows and the family business. While their shows change periodically (so guests can see them over and over again without seeing the same thing twice), what they present on stage no matter what they are doing is their amazing talent. Whether they are singing, playing their instruments, joking around, dancing, or whatever, they produce a show that is enjoyable for all ages.

Older brother Tim and his wife Judith (who plays keyboards and sings with the family) have three talented kids who are part of the show: Jessica, 17, Rachel, 14, and Timothy, 11.
Amy and her husband Rudy have four kids: Gabriel, 11, Julian, 9, Damian, 7, and Josiah, 3. Amy has been voted “Branson’s Best Violinist” for the last 6 years.

Jonathan and his wife Bella are the parents of Natalia, 13, Selena, 10, Nathanael, 8, and Leila, 7. Bella is from Samoa and entertains audiences with her native dance.

Benjamin and Brande have four sons: Benjamin, 12, Isaac, 11, Christian, 9, and Luke, 7. Ben is the comic of the family and when you are at a concert, keep a lookout for his alter ego – Cousin Julio.
Abigail and her husband Adam are the parents of Grace, 11, Seth, 8, Orson, 6, and Marcus, 2. The other members of this large and talented family include Jenny Dutton, and Joshua and Evette and their four children. While not every one of these family members is in every show, there are enough of them to put audiences in awe of all the talent in this single family.

The Show

The shows are a little bluegrass, some pop, classical, humor, singing, dancing, instrument playing, and everything else. This is a show that will delight all ages, and all ages take part in the show.

Amy’s violin playing is out of this world, and when the original siblings get together to play and sing, they are an amazing group. This family splits up their time on stage between individual solos and different combinations of Duttons, and at the end of the concert the entire family gets together for a grand finale. Throughout the concert Cousin Julio makes appearances to add the humor on stage.

Sheila and Dean explain to the audience their family history. Besides their seven biological children, they adopted seven teenagers who have now grown up and are living their own lives. To say Sheila and Dean are remarkable is an understatement.

The Duttons have been the recipients of several awards, including “Branson’s Best Show,” “Branson’s Best Performing Family” and many others. Their versatility and variety of performances in one evening is nothing short of complete entertainment.

The children are all schooled in public schools – four months a year in Arizona and the remaining school year in Missouri. They go to school during the day then take part in the shows at night. And they look like they are happy doing it. With smiles on their faces, these kids seem to be delightfully ensconced in the family business.

The Business

Besides their two theaters (in Mesa and Branson) and the Dutton Inn (in Branson), and let’s not forget all the talent they exude, this family is busy with other things as well, and when you get to a concert you will see what I mean. They have Dutton Family Fudge that they make on site and sell at the concerts. Can you say “Delicious”? They make over 5 tons of fudge each year. Who want’s popcorn when you can have homemade fudge?

The family members are in the lobby of the theaters selling their products – and especially the yummy fudge – and helping people find their seats. They are not only performers, they are also the ushers. This is a family that goes by the adage: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself! And they do.

No matter what instrument (I lost count of how many instruments they played on stage) or what style of music you like, you are sure to go away from a Dutton concert pleased and delighted with the experience. The Duttons were runners-up on America’s Got Talent, and indeed they are truly talented.

Personal Notes

I can honestly recommend taking in a Dutton show whenever you are in the Phoenix area or Branson, Missouri. You won’t leave disappointed.

And one final note: Amy’s youngest son Josiah is enduring a difficult time with his diagnosis of and treatment for Leukemia. Amy and Josiah need all the loving thoughts and prayers of everyone at this difficult time.

For more information about The Duttons, visit their website

http://www.theduttons.com

And also check out little Josiah’s progress at http://josiahsjourney.squarespace.com

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Dragons: Defenders of Berk DVD GIVEAWAY

Posted on March 6, 2014March 31, 2014 by FCA Editor

DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon fans can soar higher than ever before when Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment releases on DVD the first part of the award-winning top-rated TV series, DreamWorks DRAGONS: DEFENDERS OF BERK part 1. The DVD of the 2013 Annie Award winner for Best Animated Television Production for Children is loaded with exciting bonus content for the whole family to enjoy and contains 10 epic adventures and four all-new dragons.

Defenders of Berk, and the previously released Riders of Berk, is a must-own for any Dragons fan to catch up before the summer event when How to Train Your Dragon 2 hits theatres June 13^th!
We have five (5) DVDs to giveaway to Dragon fans. To be eligible to win a copy of Dragons: Defenders of Berk Part 1, email us at [email protected] with “Dragons” 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 March 21, 2014.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Combo Pack

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 by FCA Editor

The sequel to the popular film The Hunger Games is now available for home viewing. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire takes place the year after the original film. They are now preparing for the 75^th Hunger Games.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) are the darlings of Panem, and set out on a victory tour. They must present the picture of a loving couple, while squashing their inner demons and traumatic memories of the 74^th Hunger Games. With Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks) to keep them on track, they travel to the districts to pay homage to those tributes that did not survive the games. All the while President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is determined to keep Katniss’ defiance hidden from the public. He needs to keep her in line in order to maintain his hold on the people.

What Katniss observes while on the victory tour is the beginning of a rebellion. Can President Snow squelch Katniss’ own instinct to rebel?

In the meantime, the gamemaker (Philip Seymour Hoffman) designs a new game. The Quarter Quell (that takes place every 25 years) will pit the past champions against each other. Katniss and Peeta are back in the games. They are there to fight to the death – again. But this time only one of them will survive.

There are interesting tactics, which the tributes come up with to make their way through this new game. Will allies help each other or turn on each other? Who is trustworthy?

The costumes in this film are amazing, as is the tension that strikes once the games begin. Katniss’ original inclination is to run away, but she cannot. She has to stay and fight, and she hopes that out of the two of them it is Peeta who comes out alive.

The bonus features include deleted scenes and a nine-part documentary about the making of the movie. Having been based on a very popular series of books, the filmmakers and actors were intent on living up to the bestselling books penned by Suzanne Collins. Collins’ trilogy has been carefully reimagined on film to the appreciation of her fans. The books: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay are favorites among sci-fi readers. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie sets the groundwork for the final film. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay part one is scheduled to be released in theaters November 2014.

This is truly a trilogy that needs to be seen in sequence.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray and a DVD disc as well as Ultraviolet Digital download. It’s rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation, and language.

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