Author: Francine Brokaw

2 new documentaries from Disneynature on Disney+

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Disney+ has two new documentaries from Disneynature. On land and under the sea, these films explain and explore two very different areas of the planet.

Dolphin Reef takes viewers under the sea with Echo, a young bottlenose dolphin learning how to grow up. This fun little fellow would rather chase others than learn lessons from his devoted mother. She wants him to learn how to get food for himself and stop relying on her. But Echo takes a while to understand just how important it is for him to learn to take care of himself. After all, he has to take on his own responsibilities sooner or later.

Not only does this film look at the lives of Pacific bottlenose dolphins, it also shows the relationships that thrive under water. There is a young humpback whale who, along with his mother, must find a way to survive when the Orcas decide that little Fluke looks like a tasty meal. There are turtles, parrotfish, and others that take care of each other and the important coral reefs that are necessary for underwater life.

This is a delightful undersea film narrated by Natalie Portman.

Elephant is the second Disneynature film to drop on Disney+ on April 3. It follows a herd of elephants as they travel from the delta through the Kalahari Desert, like they do every year. The matriarch Gaia leads them. Gaia’s sister Shani and her young son Jomo are respected in the group, and even though Jomo loves to run around chasing other animals, the herd will not leave anyone behind.

The journey includes their desperate search for water and food along the way. The dust and heat are treacherous, but these amazing animals have taken this journey for millennia.

Note for sensitive viewers: one elephant does die, however it is from old age and not from being hunted. Meghan Markle narrates this film.

So, with Jomo and Echo, viewers see how young animals learn from their elders and discover what is expected of them as they continue their circle of life.

Both Elephant and Dolphin Reef premiere April 3, 2020 on Disney+.

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.

‘Swift’ on Blu-ray and DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Swift is a fun family story for all ages. It’s the story of little Manou, a little Swift bird who finds himself all alone however he discovers a seagull family who take him in as their own.

Manou is raised as a seagull however he is inept at doing the innate things seagulls can do. Nevertheless, his mother believes he should be fully accepted by the rest of the gulls while his father thinks he needs to leave the flock.

After a disturbing incident, Manou is sent away from his “family” and the flock. He finds a group of swifts that take him into their flock and help him adjust to life as a swift, and not as a gull.

The gulls and the swifts are not friends. They are all birds, but they do not associate with each other and they do not feel any friendliness towards each other. Manou is the bridge between the two groups. He also manages to help them see how they can work together and all get along.

Little Manou encounters several times when he just doesn’t fit in. He has to find his own place in the world, and he does. He is a smart, loving and courageous bird who will stop at nothing to protect the gulls and the swifts. He is one of a kind. He is a swift, yet he has the gulls in his heart.

Bonus features on the disc include a “making of” where viewers learn how the story came to be. Another bonus is an interview with Willem Dafoe, the voice of Yves, Manou’s gull father. It’s funny when Dafoe is asked when he first learned about birds. He said his first memory of birds is that of the Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds.

Kate Winslet voices Manou’s mother and Josh Keaton is the voice of Manou.  Besides the heartwarming story, there is some great music in the film. Swift is not rated however it is a family-friendly film.

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.

‘The Art of “Onward”’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Disney/Pixar’s latest hit is the movie Onward. Now the book, The Art of Onward, takes fans behind the scenes and into the art of the beautifully animated production.

The book describes the making of the film with plenty of narration as well as drawings to give readers a full understanding of how this story came to fruition through storytelling and artwork. As those who have seen the movie know, the two main characters are elves, so it was up to the animators to create reliable and relatable elves for the film.

“Creating a story for a Pixar film is a lot like going on a quest,” says Kelsey Mann, the story supervisor. And the two characters of Ian and Barley Lightfoot go on a quest of their own in this story.

The illustrations between the covers of the book show the progression of the characters and the scenery that are important elements in any animated film.

The story is about family – Laurel, the mother, brothers Barley and Ian, and their deceased father Wilden. When the boys try to bring back Wilden for a day (you have to see the movie to understand this), they end up with only half of him. This aspect provided great fun for the filmmakers.

With all the other characters being not human, the filmmakers were tasked with creating a wide variety of animals and animal-like characters. The pages in the book are filled with plenty of information about the characters as well as drawings of the different characters from the movie. “The talking tree was one of the first pieces of artwork that we did for the movie,” explains Director Dan Scanlon.

The information in the book is definitely an added piece of enjoyment for fans, however even if kids don’t read the editorials, just looking at all the designs and illustrations on the pages makes this a fun book for all ages. Animated films include many aspects and the book brings together all the wonderful elements that went into the hit film.

This is definitely a fun book to have for anyone who enjoys the movie.

  • The Art of Onward
  • Chronicle Books
  • 176 pages
  • Hardcover

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.

‘Pop Goes the ‘70s’ from Time-Life

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The latest and greatest music collection from the folks at Time-Life is Pop Goes the ‘70s. This is truly a blast from the past.

The standard version contains 10 CDs, each one loaded with great music from the decade. Personally I think the 1970’s was the last great decade for music.

There are 2 discs from “One Hit Wonders.” Listening to the wonderful songs it is strange to think that these artists did not follow up their hits with more. But that’s the way it goes.

Every song took me back to my High School and College days. I can remember distinctly driving home from school listening to certain songs on the radio. And I can remember my friends’ favorites as well as the ones that bring back memories of certain places and people. That what music does. It connects us and in many cases it uplifts us.

Baby Boomers and anyone who was at least 10-years-old during the decade will definitely feel a connection to this set. Many of the artists are no longer with us, but their music lives on.


So, just who are some of the artists on these CDs? How about Ray Stevens (do you remember “The Streak”?). Glen Campbell was a “Rhinestone Cowboy,” and The Sylvers had “Boogie Fever.” Jim Croce sang about “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” and Sammy Davis, Jr. sang about “The Candy Man.”

Rita Coolidge took us “Higher and Higher,” while Seals & Crofts brought us “Summer Breeze.” Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” had fans around the world wondering exactly who she was singing about. Speculation is on Warren Beatty. You’ll have to ask her!

Whether taking the “Love Train,” or doing some “Kung Fu Fighting,” these tunes will reach into your deepest memories.

When you’re at the “Midnight at the Oasis” where “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Moonlight Feels Right”, you’ll be in “Rock and Roll Heaven” with “The Cisco Kid.”

Rita Coolidge the Village People, Andy Gibb, Rod Stewart, Gino Vannelli, Helen Reddy, Yvonne Elliman, Bonnie Tyler, Harry Chapin, Chicago, Bread, Bobby Sherman, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Daryl Hall and John Oates, the Bay City Rollers, and more combine to make up this amazing collection of songs and artists.

The standard edition ($134.95) includes 150 songs on 10 CDs with a booklet about the collection.  The deluxe edition ($259.90) includes 271 songs on 18 CDs with a booklet.

Those who lived through this time of great music will definitely want a set for themselves and for the younger people out there, they will get an education about good music where the melody was something to sing along with and the lyrics told stories that touched our hearts and minds.

Go to the Time-Life site to order your collection of great music from the 1970s.

 

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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.

‘Swift’ GIVEAWAY

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Take flight with Swift, a wonderfully uplifting, family friendly journey about standing up for what you believe and finding your place in the world. Meet Manou, a sweet bird who grows up believing he is a seagull like his parents. He strives to swim, fish and fly like them … but feels that he is not very gifted. To his great shock, Manou discovers that he was adopted, and is actually the offspring of the much-hated swifts! After a tragedy, Manou has to navigate the differences between swifts and seagulls, and ultimately try to find his own identity – and save his friends and family along the way.

We have some copies to giveaway.

To be eligible to win a copy of Swift, email us at [email protected] with “Swift 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 6, 2020.

‘Superdome’ on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Superdome is a 1978 TV movie with an amazing cast. David Janssen heads up the list of well-known actors of the time, with Donna Mills, Tom Selleck, Van Johnson, Ken Howard, Peter Haskell, Clifton Davis, Edie Adams, Ed Nelson, and Jane Wyatt adding to the impressive cast.

New Orleans is preparing for the Super Bowl. The Cougars is the favored team. While the preparations for the game are underway, mysterious deaths start happening. They are all related to the team.

With a killer on the loose, the team’s manager (Janssen) is trying to figure out what is going on, at the same time he is being wooed by a mysterious woman (Mills). The star quarterback (Selleck) is being courted by an advertising firm trying to get an endorsement. And another player (Howard) is having marital problems while at the same time confronting an early mid-life crisis. So, there is plenty of drama with the players and the management of the team while the big game gets closer and closer and the murders are mounting up.

The movie was filmed on location in New Orleans and at the Superdome itself. Unlike today’s movies where terrorism is at the root of the disasters, this is a movie where simple human greed is at the heart of the murders. A large bet on the outcome of the game is the reason for the murders and the plot against the Cougars.

Being a 1978 film, it is definitely simpler than today’s movies, but it is fun to see the hairstyles and clothing of the day. While Tom Selleck had been acting prior to this film, he was yet to become a household name. It was not until 1980 when he jumped into the Ferrari and took on the role of Thomas Magnum.

The lead actor, Janssen, was already a household name, having starred in the TV series’ Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Fugitive, and Harry O. While women will undoubtedly be attracted to the Selleck character, it is Janssen who is the hunk of the film.

Superdome is not rated however it is not suitable for young kids as it involves murder, drugs, and adult content.

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.

Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival 2020

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The annual Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure is in full swing. The delicious concoctions developed by the amazing chefs at the Disneyland Resort are definitely worth a trip down to Anaheim.

Pick up a Sip and Savor Pass ($56) for the ultimate and easiest way to try some of the delicious treats. Each Sip and Savor Pass has 8 tabs attached which can be exchanged at any of the Festival kiosks for one of the Food and Wine delicacies created for guests this year. No alcoholic beverages can be used with the Sip and Savor Pass, but there are plenty of other great beverages as well as food items to enjoy.

The various locations for the pass include: Nuts About Cheese, Uncork California, Golden Dreams, California Craft Brews, One in a Melon, Peppers Cali-Ente, LA Style, Avacado Time, Off the Cob, I (heart) Artichokes, Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo, Berry Patch, Garlic Kissed, Paradise Garden Grill, Fesstival Cart, Cappuccino Cart, and Hollywood Churro Cart. All of these locations as well their offerings are included on a plastic card with the Pass, to make things easy. Plus, you can order any or all of your treats at any location and collect your items when you are ready. That way you don’t have to stand in line each time at each kiosk to order and collect your food or beverage.

The entire festival honors California.

There is a Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich where the waffle acts like the shell of a taco with the chicken (along with a delicious cole slaw) tucked inside. There are nods to the California cheese and wine industries. And a Road Trip Mimosa Flight from Uncork California is an interesting way to try several different tasty mimosas, each honoring an area of the state. For the desert there is a Mojave Mimosa with raspberry syrup and peach juice, for the mountains there is the Sierra Mimosa with lavender and lemon juice, and for the ocean the Pacific Mimosa includes coconut, blue Curacao, and pineapple juice. You can order the trio (4 oz. each for $17) or a single larger drink ($15). My recommendation is to try the trio. Then later you can order the one you like the most.

And of course, there are plenty of sugary delights for everyone.

On a personal note…

I had an entire three-course meal and only used half of my tabs for dinner. I began with a scrumptious Artichoke Toast with California Olive Tapenade from I (Heart) Artichokes. I really wanted a second it was so delicious, but I decided to tackle another item. I headed for Peppers Cali-Ente for the Creamy Poblano Pepper Pasta. Oh my gosh! This was SPICY. But it was so tasty that I kept eating, even though my mouth and lips were burning and I felt a sweat break out on my face. Whooo. That was hot, but also very delicious. Now in need of something to cool me down I visited Off the Cobb for a fruity Farmstand Punch. That did the trick. It is definitely a step above any fruit punch I have ever had. Now to top off my meal I visited Berry Patch for the Oikos Greek Yogurt California Berries Summer Pudding. If you love berries you’ll enjoy this dessert. They take Brioche Bread soaked with Raspberry Puree, stuffed with Grand Marnier-infused Mixes berries, and finished with Oikos Greek Yogurt whipped cream, with fresh berries. This has a touch of alcohol that is not detectable.

The next day for lunch I treated myself to the Impossible Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese dish at Nuts About Cheese, and I also returned to On the Cob for another Farmstand Punch. With a few other treats here and there, my 8 tabs on my Sip and Savor Pass were definitely put to good use.

Besides the food and drink, there are cooking demonstrations for adults and kids. Check out the website for more information.

The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival runs through April 21, 2020. Get your friends and family together for this once-a-year delight.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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.

‘The Oscar’ now on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

The 1966 film The Oscar was nominated for two Oscars (Best Art Direction and Best Costumes) but came away empty. The film is a gritty look inside the entertainment business.

Stephen Boyd plays Frank Fane, a ruthless street-smart man who claws his way to the top of the acting business. He was “discovered” by accident. When he moves to Hollywood he climbs the ladder however he has a reputation of being a difficult actor. His best friend Hymie (Tony Bennett) enables his actions and is his biggest supporter, even when he knows how despicable Fane is becoming.

Fane is a self-centered, egotistical, ruthless, conniving, greedy, dishonorable man. His wife (Elke Sommer) does not see this side of him. Yet she does take offense to his womanizing all around town.

His agent (Milton Berle) knows how difficult actors can be, but he has his hands full with this one. Fane thinks he can order everyone around and his demands are well over the top.

When he is at the bottom of his game he gets nominated for an Academy Award. This new attention energizes his greed and he will stop at nothing to get the Oscar.

An A-list cast makes this an interesting film. Jill St. John, Eleanor Parker, Joseph Cotton, Edie Adams, Ernest Borgnine, Ed Begley, Broderick Crawford, Walter Brennan, and Peter Lawford join Berle, Sommer, Bennett and Boyd in the muck of Hollywood. Hedda Hopper, Edith Head, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, and Merle Oberon appear as themselves to give the film a realistic tone.

The movie shows the greed and disregard for others by this callous man who steps on everyone on his way to the top. But will he actually make it to the top or will his heartless actions be the end of him?

This is an interesting look at Hollywood but a more entertaining film about the business is “Valley of the Dolls.” The cast in this film, however, is outstanding!

The Oscar is not rated. It is not suitable for kids.