Take a wild trip through China with three kids and a fun-loving young Yeti. Abominable is a cute animated film for all ages.

After a young Yeti escapes his captors, he climbs up to the roof of an apartment building. It’s there where young Yi lives with her mother and grandmother. She is still grieving the death of her father and withdrawn from her family. Also living in the building are her friends Jin and his young cousin Peng.

One day Yi discovers the giant beast on the roof. She cares for him and treats his injuries. After she discovers he is from the Himalayan Mountains, she names him Everest. Yi also discovers he is being hunted and decides she has to take him back to his home, even if that means traveling through the country to the mountains.

Through some unusual circumstances, Jin and Peng find themselves on the journey as well. Along the way they must outrun and outwit the people who want the Yeti for a trophy. Unfortunately, the humans are the greatest threat to Everest and his family, but if the trio can manage to get him close enough to his home, the Yeti magical powers will be enough to cloak their home, as it has done for centuries.

Everest has some magical powers and his good intentions combined with his powers often give rise to some comical situations for the group. But he is a loving little guy and does everything in his power to protect his new friends when they all find themselves in peril.

The film includes some memorable songs and immerses viewers in the wonders of China. It is a heartwarming film for all ages with plenty of music, scenery, comedy, and of course a whimsical story that will win over the hearts of everyone.

The bonus features include some deleted scenes and a look at how the storyboarding and animating of the story progressed. There is a “making of” feature and a cute look at the voice cast as they explain their lives and their characters. Plenty of other bonus features add to the fun of the disc, including some wise hints about taking care of pets, life lessons on being an independent woman, a cooking lesson to make the pork buns eaten in the film, craft lessons on how to draw the characters and make Chinese Lanterns, and even more fun and interesting bonuses.

This is a great family film. Don’t be surprised if your kids ask for an Everest of their own. Yes – they do make an adorable plush Everest (just in time for the holidays!)

Abominable is rated PG for some action and mild rude humor.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

George Peppard stars in Operation Crossbow, a film based on actual events. This 1965 movie has an amazing cast: Sophia Loren, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Anthony Quayle, Paul Henreid, Lilli Palmer, and more.

The story follows Lt. John Curtis (Peppard) as he is recruited to infiltrate the Nazi rocket facility. He must pose as a scientist and speak fluent German. Not only that, he must also memorize his character’s history. He steps into the shoes of Erik Van Ostamgen who is dead. No one is aware of his death including his wife Nora (Loren). When she surprisingly shows up, things get a little dicey for him, but the mission is important so, as they say, the show must go on.

While the Nazi’s are bombing London with their unmanned V1 flying bombs, the Allies fear the new V2 will be even more damaging and the newest rocket in production will not only be able to reach Europe, but also New York. The Allies must stop this rocket from being produced. That mission is now up to Curtis.

The movie is based on actual events and does highlight some of the real people who took part in this dangerous endeavor. While the world might think the invasion of Normandy was the big event to end the war, in fact it was the demolition of the rocket.

The bonus feature on this Blu-ray looks at the actual facts that led up to Operation Crossbow. The American scientist, Goddard, actually began the research and his failures and accomplishments landed in the hands of the Nazis. It is amazing to see how the beginning of the rocket era came to be, and how the brave agents infiltrated the rocket facility. If they had failed the world would be a different place.

Operation Crossbow is rated PG-13 for some war violence. It is an interesting story and now available on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection. It can be purchased at the Warner Archive website or online retailers where DVDs and Blu-rays are sold.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Princess Diana: A Life After Death and Harry & Meghan: A Very Modern Romance look at the lives of these people and how they have affected the royal family.

Princess Diana: A Life After Death was produced in 2018. With interviews with people who knew her and who worked with her, the film summarizes the impact Diana had on the royal family as well as the world. Described as the first icon of that generation, Diana’s tragic death has sustained her in the hearts and minds of people around the world.

Diana went outside of the royal guidelines and gave true compassion to the causes in which she believed. She spoke up about issues that would have been taboo for royals before her. She did not hesitate to bring HIV/AIDS, mental illness, eating disorders, and landmines to the headlines. These issues were not what royals discussed – before Diana. But she broke the mold. And now, her bravery and compassion are guiding the next generation of royals.

Harry & Meghan: A Very Modern Romance was also produced in 2018. This film looks at the lives of both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before they were married. In the aftermath of their engagement, the strength and work of both of these people are discussed. The introduction of Meghan into the royal family went one step further to modernize the brand and make it more down-to-earth, something Diana began when she was alive.

This documentary also looks at how the couple complements each other and brings out each other’s strengths. With each of them already on the road to helping and making life better for people in areas around the world, their joint efforts and their titles work to raise their clout. The film also looks at how far the royals have come in the years since the abdication of a king who wanted to marry a divorced American woman. Meghan was not only a divorcee and an American, but she was also an actress, and bringing those aspects into the British Royal Family was a giant leap for them.

Royal watchers will undoubtedly enjoy going down memory lane and seeing how Diana’s legacy has impacted the monarchy and the commonwealth over two decades after her death. With her two sons now taking on their roles and responsibilities, it is perhaps a good time to look back at her life and the times of the royal family in the 21^st century.

Neither one of these films is rated but they are both suitable for all ages.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Robert Redford and Kate Winslet both narrate Buttons: A Christmas Tale, a film filled with sweetness, love, and heart.  This 2018 holiday movie is destined to be an annual seasonal film for families.

Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke are guardian angels. We all have a guardian angel from the moment we are born, and both Annabelle (Alivia Clark) and Emily (Noelle E. Parker) find out about their guardian angels when they need them the most. Both girls are orphaned at different times, but through tough times, they both come through their days of strife and end up living happy lives.

Annabelle has a loving family. But when her father dies then not long after that her mother succumbs, the little girl is left alone. She is a sweet young girl but her life is turned upside down and she finds herself in the worst of circumstances. But thanks to her guardian angel (Van Dyke), Annabelle’s life takes another turn and once again she is happy and caring and loves living. Life has a way of making things good, with the help of a guardian angel and only for those with goodness in their hearts.

Emily is an orphan who finds herself in the hospital with no one to care for her. Then Rose (Lansbury) enters her life and reads her a story of one little girl who had a great life with a loving family. In the story the little girl was orphaned but her guardian angel was looking out for her and the girl was adopted by a loving and generous family. Emily hopes that will happen to her but her hopes are dashed, until a couple comes to the hospital looking for her.

The two stories intertwine. Throughout the film are fun musical numbers and the DVD contains a bonus with three musical numbers that will touch viewers’ hearts, as will this endearing tale. If this film were made in the 1940s it would certainly have been a Shirley Temple film. It is reminiscent of the heartwarming stories that Temple brought to the screen.

Buttons: A Christmas Tale is a delightful story for the season and sure to brighten up everyone’s holiday. Families can gather around the TV with some hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies and enjoy this movie together. It will leave viewers with a smile and a happy heart.

Buttons: A Christmas Tale is rated PG for thematic elements. Although it is sad at times, the outcome is definitely uplifting and heartening. And watching Van Dyke and Lansbury is always a delight.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.