The highly acclaimed movie Selma is now available on a Blu-Ray+DVD+Digital HD combo pack. The film stars David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King, Jr. in this dramatic telling of the events in 1965 that led to the voting rights act.

 

The film is a dramatized version of the events fifty years ago when King led his followers through the turbulent times in an effort to persuade President Johnson to put forth a Voting Rights Act, which eventually was realized, giving black people access to voter registration. The times were tough, the emotions were high, and nerves were raw.

 

The small Alabama town of Selma was the flashpoint for the Voting Rights legislation. King and his non-violent movement decided it was the optimum locale. Eventually, after a couple attempts for a peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery, King and the marchers were successful, thanks to Judge Frank Johnson’s court order allowing the march to proceed.

 

Ava DuVernay directed this biographical film with a purpose. Selma became a congregating place for people of all colors and religions who believed in the cause of non-violence and the rights of all to peacefully march in support of a belief. Due to the events in Selma, the Voting Rights Act was created and signed into law.

 

The movie is based on the people and events of the time. However, as with every film that is not a documentary, it does take some dramatic license, which is something explained in one of the bonus features. The bonus features on this combo pack are just as interesting if not more interesting than the movie. The historical newsreels show the actual events as they happened, which is something not even the best filmmakers can recreate. There’s nothing like seeing the real footage. In a “making of” feature titled “The Road to Selma,” the film and the events are described as a “tapestry of dignity and determination.” There are many bonus features, which highlight the people of the civil rights movement and add more depth to the film. The bonus features should definitely be seen by anyone interested in the movie and history.

 

This movie should spark the minds of people to delve deeper into the lives of some of those represented in the film: Judge Frank M. Johnson, Andrew Young, Ralph Abernathy, and more. These were people who affected history. While the spotlight of the film is on King, there were many others in the non-violent movement and many in high office who worked tirelessly for justice.

 

Besides the combo pack, Selma is also available on a single DVD. Selma is rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language.

 

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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To celebrate this release, we have some fun activity sheets and a beary exciting clip for you.
Activity Sheets

 

Elizabeth Banks and Boyd Holbrook star in this dramatic story of life in a small American town after a tragic coal mine accident. Everyone is still coping with the loss of a group of miners who perished in the accident. Only one survived. Little Accidents is the story of life, grief, and secrets.

 

Amos Jenkins (Holbrook) was the sole survivor of the accident. He is coping with his rehabilitation and survivor’s remorse. Bill Doyle (Josh Lucas) is the mining company executive who is at the center of the accident investigation.

 

When the Doyle’s son JT goes missing, the police suspect foul play. Earlier that day Diane Doyle’s (Banks) car was vandalized. Diane Doyle is now thrust into a living nightmare. Where is her son?

 

The only one who knows where JT is and what happened to him is Owen (Jacob Lofland), a friend and classmate who is hiding a disturbing secret.

 

A web of secrecy envelopes the people of the town as Amos and Diane become close friends and Owen and Diane also become friends. Owen is harboring guilt however he cannot let anyone in on his secret, especially Diane. And Amos discovers Diane is more than just the boss’ wife. They share a common experience – loss.

 

Emotions run deep in this very dramatic tale. Little Accidents won the Hamptons International Film Festival and the Napa Valley Film Festival. While the story is sad and depressing, the acting is top notch.
The desolation of the coal-mining town and the tranquility of West Virginia play heavily in this film. The movie is not rated, however due to the sensitivity of the storylines and language it is not recommended for young viewers. Little Accidents is intense. Some viewers might not like the ending. The story seems to simply stop without adequate resolution for many of the characters. Personally, I felt let down by the ending.

 

Little Accidents is now available on DVD.

 

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

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Maya The Bee is coming to DVD and Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack on May 19, 2015! Featuring an All-Star Voice Cast such as Coco Jack Gillies, Academy Award® Nominee Jacki Weaver.

 

 

Twilight Time’s limited Blu-Ray edition of April Love is a blast from the past. Actually, it’s not really a dated story. It could be set in today’s world instead of 1957 when it was produced.

 

The film puts two fresh-faced stars together: Shirley Jones who had previously starred in the musicals Oklahoma and Carousel, and Pat Boone who makes his starring big screen debut. Shirley is country girl Liz Templeton who is a bit of a tomboy. She falls for Nick Conover (Boone), the nephew of her neighbor Jed Bruce (Arthur O’Connell). Nick had gotten into some trouble in Chicago and the court ordered him to spend time in the country to get away from the bad influences he was surrounded by in the city. Reluctantly, Nick agreed to go to the farm.

 

Nick has no idea about country life or horses. Liz loves horses and loves to race her father’s horses. Her sincerity rubs off on Nick who learns to help out around the farm and eventually help his uncle with the one racehorse he has left.

 

What started as a disgruntled old man who only agreed to take in the boy as a favor to his wife and a discouraged young man, turns into basically a sustaining father/son relationship between Nick and Jed. And all the while Liz has her eye on the boy, even though she thinks he is lusting over her sister Fran.

 

There are plenty of songs throughout the film. With this cast there has to be. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The title song, “April Love”, became a trademark for Pat Boone’s singing career. The movie basically launched his acting and singing careers and he went on to more films and television roles, not to mention a popular singing career, which his daughter Debby followed.

 

Shirley Jones was already a popular star in musicals and she soon followed up with the 1962 film The Music Man, after winning an Academy Award in 1961 for her role in Elmer Gantry.

 

The harness racing is fun to watch and provides an interesting backdrop to this story of growing up, responsibility, and love. The ending is what will put a smile on everyone’s face. The little twist at the end is worth the entire movie.

 

April Love is a fun little film and something that will appeal to all ages. According to the lyrics of the title song, “April love is for the very young.” The movie is not rated yet there is nothing in here that would be objectionable for anyone – young or old. The movie was filmed on location in Kentucky and is simply a fun, good-hearted musical.

 

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