Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in this third film in The Hunger Games series. When it was released in theaters in 2014, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 was the highest-grossing domestic release of 2014. Now it is available for home entertainment.

 

This film opens with Katniss living deep inside a bunker in the catacombs of District 13. The rebellion against the Capitol and President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is growing and Katniss has been selected to be the Mockingjay – the symbol of the revolution. Under the direction of the rebel president (Julianne Moore), Katniss is displayed to everyone as the face of the revolution.

 

Katniss is worried about her friend Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who is in the Capitol and being used as a pawn by President Snow. Meanwhile, her other friends, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), and Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) are with Katniss to help her through this difficult time and to formulate a plot against the Capitol.

 

For those who are not familiar with the story of The Hunger Games, it is important to view the first two films, or read the first two books before tackling this movie. Everything is tied together and each film is a continuation of the last.

 

The films are based on the novels by Suzanne Collins. Her trilogy – The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay – have captured the imaginations and hearts of readers around the globe. With the success of the films, the powers that be at Lionsgate decided to make four films instead of three, and this latest is the third of the four movies, basically splitting the final novel into two movies.

 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is set for theatrical release November 20, 2015.

 

Bonus features on this DVD include deleted scenes and a look at the upcoming Insurgent film.

 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is filled with the drama of the previous games. It is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, and thematic material.

 

On a personal note: many scenes in this film remind me of some of the news stories on the nightly news. They are violent and representative of a mindset of pure evil.

 

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

Twilight Time has just released a limited edition Blu-ray of the classic film To Sir, With Love. This movie is one of three movies in 1967 with Sidney Poitier, the others being In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. All three have become classic films and each one has a storyline that transcends the years.

 

In To Sir, With Love Poitier stars as an idealistic teacher who tackled a group of high-spirited students. While not a teacher by profession, Mark Thackeray (Poitier) discovered he does have what it takes to tame this unruly bunch of white students in London’s East End. His patience, understanding, and compassion were the key.

 

The title song became a hit on the radios and top seller in record stores. For this new generation, a record store was where we went to purchase albums of our favorite songs! The score was nominated for a Grammy in 1968, and the film won the Laurel Award for “Sleeper of the Year.” While those in Hollywood didn’t feel the movie would have much appeal, they were proven wrong. The story is attractive and interesting to viewers young and old.

 

Sometimes bonus features on a disc are just as interesting and entertaining as the film itself, and this is the case with this release. The movie was taken from a biography by E.R. Braithwaite however, as he says in a very informative bonus feature, if all you know of his experience teaching in London is what you’ve seen in the film, then you don’t know anything. Braithwaite is a very interesting man who was born in Guyana and went to London for his education. He joined the Royal Air Force in World War II and after the war he needed a job. He was offered a job teaching in London’s East End. That part of the movie is true. But there is much more to this man and his experience, as viewers will learn.

 

Another bonus is about Lulu, who is “introduced” in this film as one of the students and who sings the title song. She was already a recording artist when she was cast and talks about how the song shot to the top of the charts in America. Another bonus looks at the 1960’s fashion, styles, and pop culture. London was the place where “mod” was born, and this is a fun little feature about the culture as well as Sidney Poitier. And yet another bonus looks at how the film finally got produced.

 

To Sir, With Love is a movie with charm and is an enduring story. While the fashions, hair, and some ideals have gone out of style, a good movie never does. And, after viewing this new Blu-ray edition, you might want to pick up a copy of the actual book on which it was based.

 

As the lyrics say, “Sir” as his students called him, was “a friend who taught me right from wrong.” To Sir, With Love is not rated, however it is not suitable for very young kids. Teens and above are fine.

 

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

Three little ponies in Eqestria – Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom – are in search for their own cutie marks. But they discover getting a cutie mark is not as easy as they hoped it would be.

 

In this collection of episodes, viewers see all kinds of magic and fun in Ponyville, especially with Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo who are desperate to get their cutie marks. In one episode, viewers learn how the other ponies received theirs, and how they were all connected even before they became best friends.

 

And with Apple Bloom getting impatient for her very own cutie mark, she takes matters into her own hands when she uses a potion and discovers that’s not the way to earn her mark. As a matter of fact, it’s the way to the cutie pox, which causes all kinds of havoc for her.

 

The cutie marks are the little emblems on the ponies that show their unique characteristics. And earning just the right cutie mark for each pony requires time and definitely patience. The three young ponies dub themselves the “Cutie Mark Crusaders,” in search of their own special cutie marks.

 

The episodes in this collection include:

 

1. The Cutie Mark Chronicles

 

2. The Cutie Pox

 

3. Flight To The Finish

 

4. Pinkie Pride

 

5. Twilight Time

 

There are also some bonus features, including a sing-along (after all, Ponyville would not be the same without all the little songs from the adorable ponies), a coloring sheet to download, as well as digital wallpaper. And parents should make sure to download the Cutie Pox Storybook App from the App Store, as well as other My Little Pony apps.

 

And don’t forget to go to the My Little Pony website for more pony fun. http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/en_US/

 

Princess Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinky Pie are all delightful ponies and kids have been enjoying the fun of Ponyville for ages. And now the three young ponies add to the enjoyment of My Little Pony. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Bell are absolutely adorable, even though their patience is running low and they truly each desire their own cutie marks. Will they get them bowling? Zip lining? Find out in this new collection of pony fun.

 

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